Fossil Ammonite – EUHOPLITES lautus – Gault Clay, Middle Albian Cretaceous, Folkestone Kent UK

Description

This listing features a well-preserved fossil ammonite, EUHOPLITES lautus, collected from the Gault Clay Formation at Folkestone, Kent, in the United Kingdom. Dating to the Middle Albian Stage of the Cretaceous Period, this ammonite showcases the exceptional preservation quality typical of the Gault Clay marine deposits.

Fossil Type & Species:

• Type: Ammonite (Extinct Marine Cephalopod)
• Species: Euhoplites lautus
• Known for its finely detailed ribbing, ornate shell structure, and keeled venter

Geological Context:

• Era: Mesozoic
• Period: Cretaceous
• Epoch: Early Cretaceous
• Stage: Middle Albian (~107 to 105 million years ago)
• Formation: Gault Clay Formation
• Depositional Environment: A quiet, offshore marine basin with clay-rich sediment, resulting in exceptional fossil preservation. Conditions often included low oxygen environments ideal for maintaining fine morphological detail

Morphological Features:

• Small to medium-sized shell with high whorl expansion and strong ribbing across the flanks
• Finely tuberculate or ornamented ribs, often bifurcating or intersecting toward the venter
• Sharp keel (venter) with ventrolateral tubercles in well-preserved specimens
• Compact and involute coiling, with moderate umbilicus

Scientific Importance:

• Euhoplites lautus is an important index fossil for the Middle Albian and helps define key biozones in British and European Cretaceous stratigraphy
• Offers insight into ammonite morphological variation and evolutionary pathways during the Albian marine transgression
• A valuable reference specimen for collectors and researchers alike

Locality Information:

• Folkestone, Kent, UK – a world-renowned site for collecting Gault Clay fossils, including ammonites, belemnites, crustaceans, fish, and marine reptiles

Authenticity & Display:

All of our fossils are 100% Genuine Specimens and include a Certificate of Authenticity. The images show the actual specimen you will receive. Please refer to the photograph for full sizing, where the scale cube = 1cm.

This is a rare opportunity to own a scientifically significant and display-worthy ammonite from the classic Gault Clay of Folkestone. A stunning addition for collectors, educators, or enthusiasts of Britain’s rich Cretaceous marine history.

Add this exceptional Euhoplites lautus fossil to your collection today—preserved from the ancient seas of southern England, over 105 million years old.