Creniceras Ammonite Fossil Rare Oxfordian Jurassic Yaxley Cambridgeshire UK Genuine

Description

Rare Creniceras Ammonite Fossil from Yaxley, Cambridgeshire

This listing presents a rare Creniceras ammonite fossil from the Oxfordian stage of the Jurassic period, discovered in Yaxley, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom. At around 160 million years old, this ammonite represents an exceptional piece of Britain’s Jurassic heritage. The photographs provided show the exact specimen you will receive, complete with a 1 cm scale cube for accurate sizing.

All of our fossils are guaranteed to be 100% genuine specimens, carefully chosen for their authenticity and quality, and every purchase includes a Certificate of Authenticity. This ammonite is not a replica or cast but a natural fossil preserved in fine detail since the Late Jurassic seas.

Geological Setting – Oxfordian Stage, Jurassic Period

The Oxfordian stage (c. 163.5–157.3 million years ago) marks the beginning of the Late Jurassic. During this time, much of southern and eastern England, including what is now Cambridgeshire, was submerged under shallow tropical seas. These environments created ideal conditions for the deposition of marine sediments that preserved a rich diversity of ammonites, bivalves, gastropods, and marine reptiles.

The Oxfordian is particularly important for biostratigraphy, as ammonites such as Creniceras provide reliable index fossils used to correlate rock layers across large regions of Europe. The discovery of this ammonite in Yaxley links the locality to these wider geological frameworks, making it not only a collector’s piece but also a specimen of scientific importance.

Scientific Classification

• Genus: Creniceras
• Family: Aspidoceratidae
• Superfamily: Perisphinctoidea
• Order: Ammonitida
• Age: Oxfordian Stage, Late Jurassic
• Locality: Yaxley, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom

Morphological Features

Ammonites of the genus Creniceras are recognised for their distinctive shell characteristics. This specimen typically displays:

• Strong, well-defined ribbing that runs across the whorls, giving the shell an elegant, textured appearance.
• A compressed and coiled discoidal shell, which allowed the ammonite to maintain buoyancy and manoeuvrability in the water.
• Potential development of small nodules or tubercles along the ribs in some examples, enhancing its ornamental form.
• Complex suture lines, representing the internal chamber divisions, which in well-preserved specimens create intricate natural patterns.

These features combine to create a fossil that is both scientifically valuable and visually striking, making it highly desirable for collectors and enthusiasts alike.

Paleoecological Significance

Ammonites such as Creniceras were active nektonic predators in Jurassic seas. Their chambered shells functioned as buoyancy devices, enabling them to rise and sink within the water column. They likely hunted small crustaceans, molluscs, and other marine organisms, playing an important role in the food chain.

The robust ribbing seen in this genus may have served structural purposes, helping to reinforce the shell against water pressure and predation. These adaptations highlight the evolutionary success of ammonites, which thrived for over 300 million years before their extinction at the end of the Cretaceous.

Collector and Display Value

This Creniceras ammonite from Yaxley is an exceptional fossil for both scientific and display purposes. Its provenance from a historically significant British locality, combined with its rarity and detail, makes it a standout addition to any fossil collection.

Whether showcased in a private collection, used in an educational setting, or displayed as a natural art piece, this ammonite represents a tangible connection to the rich marine ecosystems of the Late Jurassic seas that once covered Britain.

Key Details

• Fossil Type: Ammonite
• Genus: Creniceras
• Age: Oxfordian Stage, Jurassic (c. 160 million years old)
• Origin: Yaxley, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
• Distinctive ribbed and compressed shell morphology
• Supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity
• Photographed with 1 cm scale cube for exact sizing

This rare Creniceras ammonite fossil from Yaxley offers both scientific interest and aesthetic beauty, making it an ideal acquisition for fossil enthusiasts, collectors, and admirers of natural history.