Cardioceras Fossil Ammonite Upper Callovian Jurassic France Genuine Authentic Specimen

Description

Authentic Cardioceras Fossil Ammonite from France

This listing features a genuine Cardioceras fossil ammonite, preserved from the Upper Callovian Stage of the Jurassic Period and originating from France. Ammonites such as Cardioceras are highly valued both scientifically and by collectors for their distinct ribbing, strong shell features, and role as important index fossils in Jurassic geology. This specimen comes complete with a Certificate of Authenticity, ensuring its provenance and guaranteeing it as an authentic fossil. The photographs show the exact piece you will receive.

Geological Age and Origin

This specimen dates to the Upper Callovian Stage of the Jurassic Period, approximately 164–161 million years ago. During this time, much of Europe, including present-day France, was covered by shallow epicontinental seas rich in marine life. Ammonites thrived as fast-swimming cephalopods, playing an important role in the marine food chain. The French Callovian deposits are particularly well-known for their abundance and variety of ammonite fossils, making them crucial to both academic study and private collections.

Scientific Classification

• Genus: Cardioceras
• Family: Cardioceratidae
• Superfamily: Stephanoceratoidea
• Order: Ammonitida
• Class: Cephalopoda
• Geological Age: Upper Callovian, Jurassic Period
• Locality: France

Morphological Characteristics

Ammonites from the genus Cardioceras are highly recognisable due to their unique morphology. Notable features include:

• Prominent ribbing radiating from the umbilicus across the whorls, giving the shell a strong, textured appearance.
• A compressed shell form with a relatively narrow whorl cross-section.
• An open umbilicus, allowing inner coils to remain visible.
• A ventral keel which added hydrodynamic efficiency in life.
• These features are not only visually striking but also serve as key identifiers for paleontologists when distinguishing species and subgenera within Cardioceratidae.

Biostratigraphic Importance

Cardioceras ammonites are classic index fossils of the Upper Callovian, used to define and correlate geological horizons across Europe and beyond. The rapid evolution of this group, coupled with their widespread distribution in Jurassic seas, makes them essential for identifying biozones within the Callovian. This means that a specimen like this is not only a collector’s piece but also a valuable reference to Earth’s deep geological history.

Depositional Environment

During the Upper Callovian, the area that is now France was submerged beneath warm, nutrient-rich seas. These waters supported a thriving ecosystem of molluscs, marine reptiles, and cephalopods such as ammonites. When ammonites like Cardioceras died, their shells sank to the seabed, where fine sediments slowly buried them. Over millions of years, mineralisation preserved their details in stone, leaving behind the beautifully defined fossils we see today.

Collector’s Value

This Cardioceras fossil ammonite is both scientifically important and visually appealing. Its strong ribbing and classical Jurassic form make it an ideal specimen for collectors, educators, or anyone fascinated by natural history. Each fossil is unique, and this piece was carefully selected for its preservation and display quality. With its provenance from France and its place within Jurassic biostratigraphy, it stands as both an impressive display piece and a tangible link to the ancient seas of the Mesozoic Era.

Item Details

• Type: Fossil Ammonite – Cardioceras
• Age: Upper Callovian, Jurassic (approx. 164–161 million years old)
• Origin: France
• Notable Features: Strong ribbing, compressed shell form, visible umbilicus
• Scale: Rule squares/cube = 1 cm (see photos for exact sizing)
• Authenticity: Supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity
• Specimen: The exact fossil pictured is the one you will receive

A rare and genuine Cardioceras fossil ammonite from the Upper Callovian seas of Jurassic France – an exceptional collector’s item and a remarkable piece of Earth’s ancient history.