Fossil Ammonite Bradfordia Praeoppelia liomphala Bajocian Jurassic Milborne Wick Dorset UK with Certificate of Authenticity

Description

This listing offers a Bradfordia (Praeoppelia) liomphala ammonite fossil from the Bajocian stage of the Middle Jurassic Period, approximately 170–168 million years old. Found in the fossiliferous deposits of Milborne Wick, Dorset, United Kingdom, this specimen is an excellent representation of a species highly regarded for its biostratigraphic importance and distinctive morphology. With its provenance from one of England’s most significant Jurassic localities, this fossil makes an exceptional addition to any collection.

All of our fossils are 100% genuine specimens and are supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity. The exact fossil shown in the photographs is the one you will receive, with a 1 cm scale cube and rule squares for accurate sizing.

Geological Context and Age

This ammonite comes from the Bajocian stage of the Middle Jurassic, a time when much of southern England was submerged beneath warm, shallow epicontinental seas. These seas were part of the Tethys Ocean system, rich in life and a major centre for ammonite evolution.

The deposits of Milborne Wick, Dorset, are known for their excellent preservation of ammonites and other marine fossils. The Bajocian stage is a key interval in Jurassic stratigraphy, and species such as Bradfordia (Praeoppelia) liomphala serve as reliable index fossils, enabling geologists to date and correlate rock layers across Europe and beyond.

Morphology and Distinctive Features

Bradfordia (Praeoppelia) liomphala belongs to the family Oppeliidae, within the superfamily Haploceratoidea of the order Ammonitida. This genus is distinguished by its compressed discoidal shell with a narrow, rounded venter and strongly involute coiling, where the outer whorls envelop the earlier ones almost completely.

This specimen displays the smooth to finely striated flanks, along with the classic symmetry and elegant coiling characteristic of the group. The streamlined form suggests it was an efficient swimmer, adapted to a nektonic lifestyle in the open marine environment. These adaptations would have enabled it to actively hunt smaller prey such as crustaceans and juvenile fish in the Middle Jurassic seas.

Scientific Importance

Bradfordia (Praeoppelia) liomphala is a species of considerable palaeontological importance. Its restricted stratigraphic range makes it particularly useful for defining Bajocian biozones, an essential tool for Jurassic biostratigraphy. Because ammonites evolved rapidly and spread widely, species like this allow geologists to make precise correlations between geographically distant rock sequences.

In addition, the morphology of Bradfordia provides insight into the evolutionary pathways of the Oppeliidae family, which was highly diverse and influential during the Middle Jurassic. Fossils from Dorset play an important role in these studies, as the region’s geology has been intensively researched since the 19th century and continues to be of global significance.

Collector and Display Value

This Bradfordia (Praeoppelia) liomphala ammonite fossil is both scientifically valuable and visually attractive. Its elegant, compressed form and smooth shell structure make it an appealing display fossil, while its rarity and provenance from Milborne Wick, Dorset, add considerable collecting value.

Collectors of British ammonites and Jurassic fossils will find this specimen especially desirable due to its stratigraphic importance and well-documented locality. It represents not only a fascinating glimpse into the life of the Jurassic seas but also a key piece of geological history.

Your Guarantee of Authenticity

• 100% genuine Bradfordia (Praeoppelia) liomphala ammonite fossil from Milborne Wick, Dorset, United Kingdom
• Geological age: Bajocian stage, Middle Jurassic (approx. 170–168 million years old)
• Supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity
• Exact specimen shown in photographs (no stock images used)
• Scale cube and rule squares = 1 cm (see photos for accurate sizing)

This Bradfordia (Praeoppelia) liomphala ammonite fossil is a scientifically important and beautifully preserved specimen from Dorset’s Bajocian deposits. With its rarity, provenance, and elegant morphology, it is a distinguished addition to any fossil collection.