Description
Genuine Catacoeloceras sp. Ammonite Fossil from Somerset, UK
This is a genuine Catacoeloceras sp. ammonite fossil from Somerset, UK, dating to the Lower Jurassic, Toarcian Stage. Catacoeloceras is a classic Early Jurassic ammonite genus associated with marine deposits of the Upper Lias, and specimens from Somerset are highly collectable examples of Britain’s rich Jurassic fossil heritage. This fossil offers an authentic connection to the ancient seas that covered much of south-west England around 183 to 174 million years ago.
This fossil is a carefully chosen piece, with the photograph showing the actual specimen you will receive. Full sizing can be seen in the photo. The specimen also includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card, making it an excellent choice for fossil collectors, geology enthusiasts, educational displays, natural history cabinets, or as a distinctive gift for anyone interested in prehistoric marine life.
Fossil Type and Ammonite Identification
Catacoeloceras sp. is an ammonite, an extinct marine cephalopod related to modern squid, cuttlefish, and nautilus. Ammonites lived inside coiled, chambered shells. The animal occupied the final outer body chamber, while the earlier chambers helped regulate buoyancy, allowing it to move through the Jurassic sea.
The genus Catacoeloceras belongs to the order Ammonitida and is generally placed within the family Dactylioceratidae, a well-known group of Lower Jurassic ammonites. Dactylioceratid ammonites are especially recognised for their evolute coiling, visible inner whorls, and strong ribbed ornament. These features give Catacoeloceras fossils a bold and textured appearance, making them popular with collectors of British Jurassic ammonites.
As this fossil is identified as Catacoeloceras sp., it has been assigned confidently to the genus, while the exact species has not been specified. This is common with ammonites where preservation, matrix, wear, compression, or partial exposure may make species-level identification uncertain. The genus itself remains scientifically meaningful and visually appealing.
Lower Jurassic Toarcian Age
This ammonite dates to the Toarcian Stage of the Lower Jurassic, an important period in ammonite evolution and Jurassic stratigraphy. The Toarcian is especially well known for its diverse ammonite faunas, which are widely used by geologists as index fossils. Because ammonites evolved rapidly and spread across broad marine regions, their shells help date and correlate Jurassic rock layers across Britain and Europe.
During the Toarcian, Somerset lay beneath warm shallow to moderately deep marine waters. These seas supported a varied ecosystem including ammonites, belemnites, bivalves, brachiopods, gastropods, fish, and marine reptiles. After death, ammonite shells could settle onto the sea floor, become buried in fine sediment, and slowly mineralise over millions of years. Natural compression, mineral staining, matrix attachment, surface texture, and any small imperfections are part of the fossil’s authentic geological history.
Somerset Jurassic Geological Setting
Somerset is an important British fossil region, with Lower Jurassic rocks exposed in several areas and long recognised for their marine fossil content. Toarcian strata in the region are associated with the wider Upper Lias succession, a sequence of marine mudstones, shales, marls, and limestones deposited in ancient Jurassic seas. These rocks preserve a detailed record of changing marine conditions, sea levels, and fossil communities during the Early Jurassic.
Ammonites such as Catacoeloceras are among the most useful and collectable fossils from these deposits. Their ribbed shells record both biological form and geological history, while their presence helps link the specimen to a specific interval of Jurassic time. Fossils from Somerset are particularly appealing to collectors because they combine strong British locality interest with classic Lower Jurassic ammonite preservation.
Morphology and Display Features
Catacoeloceras ammonites are typically known for their rounded, strongly ribbed shells and open coiling, where the whorls are often clearly visible. The ribbing gives the fossil a distinctive sculptural texture and reflects the growth pattern of the shell. In many dactylioceratid ammonites, the ribs extend across the whorl and may vary in strength as the animal grew, creating a visually attractive fossil surface.
The overall form of Catacoeloceras makes it a strong display fossil. Its coiled shell shape is instantly recognisable, while the ribbed ornament gives it a clear Jurassic ammonite character. Whether displayed in a fossil cabinet, used in a teaching collection, added to a British fossil collection, or given as a natural history gift, this specimen represents a genuine piece of the ancient marine world.
Certificate of Authenticity Included
This Catacoeloceras sp. ammonite fossil is a genuine specimen and includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card. The fossil has been selected as an individual piece, and the photograph shows the actual specimen supplied. With its Somerset origin, Toarcian age, Lower Jurassic geology, and classic ammonite form, it is a desirable fossil for collectors of British ammonites, Jurassic marine fossils, and authentic natural history specimens.
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