Callipurbeckia minor Fossil Fish Scale Cretaceous Dorset UK Genuine Fossil Certificate Authenticity

Description

Genuine Callipurbeckia minor Fossil Fish Scale from Durlston Bay

An authentic Callipurbeckia minor fossil fish scale from the famous Durlston Formation of the Purbeck Beds, collected at Durlston Bay, Swanage, Dorset, UK. This remarkable fossil originates from Lower Cretaceous-aged deposits and represents part of the rich prehistoric ecosystems preserved along the world-famous Jurassic Coast.

This fossil is a genuine specimen and includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card. The fossil shown in the photographs is the exact specimen you will receive. Full sizing please see photo.

Your specimen was discovered by our own team members, Alister and Alison, and has been carefully cleaned, prepped and treated by Alison to preserve its natural detail and condition.

About Callipurbeckia minor

Callipurbeckia minor was an extinct prehistoric ray-finned fish belonging to the Order Semionotiformes, a group of ancient ganoid fishes that thrived throughout the Jurassic and Early Cretaceous periods. These fishes are recognised for their highly distinctive diamond-shaped scales coated in ganoine, a hard enamel-like substance that gave the fish additional protection and created a reflective surface texture.

The scales of Callipurbeckia are especially desirable to collectors because they preserve exceptional detail and often display natural lustre, geometric morphology and fine surface ornamentation. Fossilised scales from the Purbeck Beds are an important part of British vertebrate palaeontology and provide evidence of the freshwater and lagoonal fish fauna that inhabited southern England during the Early Cretaceous.

Geological Formation and Depositional Environment

This specimen comes from the renowned Durlston Formation within the Purbeck Group of Dorset. The Purbeck Beds are internationally celebrated for preserving a diverse fossil assemblage including fish, crocodilians, turtles, insects, plants and dinosaur remains.

The sediments were deposited within shallow lagoons, freshwater pools and marginal marine environments during the transition between the Late Jurassic and earliest Cretaceous. Seasonal fluctuations in salinity and water level created ideal conditions for fossil preservation, particularly within the finely bedded limestones and calcareous mudstones found at Durlston Bay.

Durlston Bay forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coast and has been studied extensively by geologists and palaeontologists for over two centuries due to its rich fossil content and exceptional stratigraphy.

Preservation and Fossil Detail

This fossil fish scale has been professionally prepared to reveal its natural structure while maintaining the integrity of the surrounding matrix. The specimen displays the characteristic morphology associated with ganoid fish scales, including its distinctive rhomboidal shape and mineralised surface texture.

Each fossil from this locality is naturally unique, with variations in colouration, preservation and matrix composition formed through millions of years of geological processes. No replicas or artificial enhancements are involved.

The careful preparation by Alison ensures the specimen remains stable while preserving fine fossil detail for long-term collecting and display.

Ideal for Collectors and Educational Displays

This authentic Callipurbeckia minor fossil fish scale is ideal for:

• Fossil collectors
• Jurassic Coast collections
• British fossil collections
• Vertebrate fossil enthusiasts
• Educational study collections
• Natural history displays
• Geological gifts
• Early Cretaceous fossil collections

The compact nature and attractive preservation make this specimen suitable for both beginner and advanced fossil collectors.

Certificate of Authenticity Included

All of our fossils are guaranteed 100% genuine specimens and include a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card. We personally recover many of our fossils from UK localities and professionally prepare them in-house to ensure authenticity and quality.

The specimen photographed is the exact fossil you will receive, making this a unique and genuine piece of prehistoric natural history from the famous fossil-bearing deposits of Dorset, England.