Epithyris oxonica Fossil Brachiopod – Great Oolite – Middle Jurassic – Kirtlington, Oxfordshire, UK – Authentic with Certificate

Description

Epithyris oxonica Fossil Brachiopod

Middle Jurassic – Bathonian Stage – Great Oolite Group

Kirtlington Cement Works, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

Taxonomy:

• Order: Terebratulida
• Superfamily: Terebratuloidea
• Family: Epithyrididae
• Genus and species: Epithyris oxonica (Davidson, 1861)

Geological & Palaeontological Context:

• Age: Middle Jurassic (~168–166 million years ago)
• Stage: Bathonian
• Formation: Great Oolite Group
• Locality: Kirtlington Cement Works, Oxfordshire, UK
• Depositional Environment: Shallow marine shelf, warm subtropical waters with moderate energy – primarily carbonate sediments forming oolitic and bioclastic limestones

Morphology and Features:

• Distinctive biconvex shell, typically small to medium in size
• Smooth to slightly punctate surface, subcircular to oval profile
• Clearly defined pedicle foramen and well-developed hinge structures
• Muscle scar patterns are diagnostic for species-level identification

Zone & Biozone (if inferable):

Kirtlington fossils often derive from the White Limestone Formation of the Great Oolite Group, sometimes linked with the Morrisi Zone within the Bathonian. Though not always tightly constrained, Epithyris oxonica is common in the Brachiopod Beds, useful for biostratigraphic purposes and paleoenvironmental analysis.

Scientific & Collector Significance:

• Epithyris oxonica was formally described by Thomas Davidson in the mid-19th century and is a type species for studies of Middle Jurassic terebratulids.
• These brachiopods help reconstruct shallow marine environments of Jurassic Britain and are well-known from the rich macrofossil assemblages at Kirtlington.
• The Great Oolite Group is globally renowned for yielding well-preserved invertebrates, including brachiopods, echinoids, bivalves, and occasional vertebrate remains.

Specimen Notes:

• This particular piece was collected from the historically important Kirtlington Cement Works, a site that has yielded important palaeontological material for decades.
• Scale Cube = 1cm – See photograph for actual size and preservation quality.
• You will receive the exact specimen shown in the image.
• Includes Certificate of Authenticity.

Package Includes:

• 1 x Epithyris oxonica fossil brachiopod
• Formation: Great Oolite Group
• Age: Bathonian Stage, Middle Jurassic
• Locality: Kirtlington, Oxfordshire, UK
• Certificate of Authenticity
• Ideal for collectors, educators, or scientific reference

Summary:

This is a scientifically significant and beautifully preserved specimen of Epithyris oxonica, a classic British Jurassic brachiopod from the renowned Great Oolite limestones of Oxfordshire. A worthy addition to any fossil collection.