Description
Dactylioceras commune Fossil Ammonite
This is a genuine Dactylioceras commune fossil ammonite from the Lower Toarcian stage of the Jurassic Period, collected from Whitby, Yorkshire, United Kingdom. This carefully chosen specimen is a classic British Jurassic ammonite from one of the most famous fossil localities in the world. The photograph shows the actual fossil you will receive, allowing you to view the preservation, natural detail, colour, surface texture and overall character of the specimen before purchase.
This fossil is supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card, confirming it as a genuine fossil specimen. Full sizing can be seen in the photograph. It is an excellent choice for collectors of Whitby ammonites, British fossils, Jurassic marine fossils, natural history specimens and educational geology display pieces.
Geology and Jurassic Age
Dactylioceras commune dates from the Lower Toarcian, part of the Early Jurassic Period, approximately 183 million years old. During this time, the area now known as Whitby and the Yorkshire coast was covered by warm Jurassic seas. Fine marine muds and organic-rich sediments accumulated on the seabed, forming the famous fossil-bearing rocks of the Whitby Mudstone Formation.
Whitby is internationally known for its Jurassic fossils, especially ammonites preserved in dark shale and limestone nodules. These rocks record an ancient marine environment where ammonites, belemnites, bivalves, fish, crinoids and marine reptiles lived in the seas that once covered northern England. The Toarcian is particularly important in geology because ammonites from this interval are widely used as index fossils for dating and correlating Jurassic rock layers.
Fossil Type and Species
This specimen is an ammonite, an extinct marine cephalopod related to modern squid, cuttlefish and nautilus. Ammonites lived inside coiled, chambered shells. The living animal occupied the final outer chamber, while earlier chambers helped control buoyancy as it moved through the water column.
Species: Dactylioceras commune
Genus: Dactylioceras
Family: Dactylioceratidae
Superfamily: Eoderoceratoidea
Order: Ammonitida
Class: Cephalopoda
Phylum: Mollusca
Dactylioceras commune is one of the best-known and most collectable ammonite species from the Lower Jurassic of Whitby. The species was originally described by James Sowerby, whose early 19th-century work on British fossils helped establish many classic ammonite names used by collectors and palaeontologists today.
Morphology and Identification Features
Dactylioceras commune is admired for its attractive coiled shell and distinctive ribbing. The shell is generally evolute, meaning the earlier whorls remain visible rather than being tightly covered by later growth. This open-coiled form gives the fossil its classic ammonite appearance and allows the spiral growth pattern to be clearly seen.
The ribs are typically strong and regular, often extending across the whorls in a fine, repeated pattern. These ribs strengthened the shell and are important features used in ammonite identification. The rounded whorl section and balanced spiral form make Dactylioceras commune especially appealing as a display fossil, combining scientific interest with a striking natural pattern.
Whitby, Yorkshire Fossil Locality
Whitby is one of the most famous fossil localities in the United Kingdom, with a long history of ammonite collecting. The town and surrounding Yorkshire coast are closely associated with Jurassic fossils, Whitby jet, fossil folklore and classic British palaeontology. Ammonites from Whitby have been collected for generations and remain highly desirable because of their distinctive preservation, historic locality and strong visual appeal.
The Lower Toarcian rocks around Whitby were deposited in marine conditions that could be low in oxygen, helping preserve fossil shells and organic material. Over millions of years, burial, compaction and mineralisation transformed these remains into the fossils found today. Many Whitby ammonites are preserved with dark tones, mineral-rich surfaces or natural matrix, giving each specimen an individual character.
Authenticity and Collector Appeal
This Dactylioceras commune ammonite is a carefully chosen genuine fossil specimen and includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card. The photo shows the exact fossil supplied, so buyers can purchase with confidence knowing they will receive the specimen pictured.
As with all genuine fossils, natural cracks, matrix, mineralisation, surface marks, preparation marks, colour variation and age-related wear may be present. These features are normal characteristics of authentic fossils and form part of the specimen’s natural geological history. This Lower Toarcian Dactylioceras commune from Whitby, Yorkshire is ideal for fossil collectors, Jurassic ammonite enthusiasts, educational collections, natural history displays and anyone seeking a genuine British ammonite from a classic UK fossil locality.
