Cardioceras buckowskii Fossil Ammonite Lower Oxfordian Jurassic Scarborough Yorkshire United Kingdom

Description

This listing features a Cardioceras buckowskii ammonite fossil from the Lower Oxfordian stage of the Jurassic period, approximately 163 to 161 million years old. Unearthed near Scarborough, Yorkshire, United Kingdom, this specimen represents an exceptional piece of Britain’s rich fossil heritage. The ammonite is beautifully preserved and shows the characteristic ribbing and form of this species. The exact fossil shown in the photographs is the specimen you will receive, with a 1 cm scale cube included for accurate sizing. Every fossil is carefully chosen and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, ensuring it is a genuine specimen of natural history.

Geological Context

The Oxfordian stage marks the beginning of the Late Jurassic and is a period well known for the abundance and diversity of ammonites. In Yorkshire, particularly around Scarborough, the Oxford Clay and associated deposits provide a window into a shallow epicontinental sea that once covered much of northern Europe. Sediments from this time preserve a variety of marine organisms, from ammonites and belemnites to marine reptiles and bivalves, capturing an ancient ecosystem in remarkable detail.

The Lower Oxfordian ammonites are important as biostratigraphic markers. The genus Cardioceras, in particular, is widely recognised for defining zones within the Oxfordian, allowing geologists to precisely date rock sequences across Europe. Fossils such as this Cardioceras buckowskii play a critical role in understanding the stratigraphy and palaeobiogeography of the Jurassic seas.

Morphological Features of Cardioceras buckowskii

This specimen demonstrates the diagnostic traits of the species, including:

• A moderately compressed, involute shell with a rounded whorl profile.
• Strong, well-developed ribbing radiating from the umbilicus and sweeping across the flanks.
• A narrow ventral keel giving the ammonite a streamlined form.
• Fine suture patterns, typical of the genus, that reflect the complexity of chamber divisions inside the shell.

These features not only serve to identify the fossil but also highlight its evolutionary adaptations for life in open marine environments. The shell form and keel would have aided buoyancy and hydrodynamic efficiency as the ammonite swam in pursuit of prey.

Scientific and Collector Significance

Cardioceras buckowskii is part of the family Cardioceratidae, within the superfamily Stephanoceratoidea, order Ammonitida. Ammonites of this family are well known for their stratigraphic importance, with species often defining distinct biozones. Specimens from Scarborough are particularly desirable, as the area is historically significant in British paleontology and has produced ammonites studied since the 19th century.

For collectors, this fossil combines rarity, scientific value, and aesthetic appeal. Its ribbing and symmetry make it visually striking, while its precise stratigraphic position adds academic interest. Such a fossil is equally at home in a private collection, a teaching collection, or a museum-style display.

Key Details

• Species: Cardioceras buckowskii
• Age: Lower Oxfordian, Jurassic (~163–161 million years old)
• Location: Scarborough, Yorkshire, United Kingdom
• Order: Ammonitida
• Superfamily: Stephanoceratoidea
• Family: Cardioceratidae
• Preservation: Distinct ribbing, visible keel, and shell morphology well defined
• Authenticity: 100% genuine specimen, supplied with Certificate of Authenticity
• Scale cube: 1 cm (see photographs for accurate measurements)

This rare Cardioceras buckowskii ammonite fossil from Scarborough is a remarkable specimen of Britain’s Jurassic seas, offering scientific, educational, and display value in one extraordinary piece of natural history.

Scale cube = 1 cm. Please refer to photographs for full sizing details.