Fossil Bivalve Pholadomya Chalk Marl Cretaceous Southernham Quarry East Sussex UK

Description

Genuine Fossil Bivalve – Pholadomya from East Sussex

This is a carefully selected fossil bivalve, Pholadomya, preserved in Chalk Marl from the Cretaceous period, collected at Southernham Quarry Pit, East Sussex, UK. The fossil you see in the photos is the exact specimen you will receive. Each fossil from this locality represents a tangible link to life in the warm seas that covered southern England during the Late Cretaceous. The specimen comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, ensuring its provenance and genuineness.

Geological Setting – Chalk Marl of the Cretaceous

The fossil originates from the Chalk Marl deposits of East Sussex, dating to the Cretaceous period (around 100–90 million years ago). These deposits were laid down in shallow marine environments when Britain was submerged beneath a vast subtropical seaway. The Chalk Marl is known for its calcareous mudstones and marls, which provide an excellent medium for fossil preservation.

The Southernham Quarry Pit is a particularly important site, yielding a wide variety of well-preserved marine organisms including bivalves, ammonites, inoceramids, gastropods, and echinoids. Fossils from this location are highly regarded by collectors and researchers alike for both their preservation and stratigraphic importance.

Taxonomy and Classification

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Mollusca
• Class: Bivalvia
• Order: Myoida
• Superfamily: Pholadomyoidea
• Family: Pholadomyidae
• Genus: Pholadomya

The genus Pholadomya is distinctive within the fossil record for its elongated, often oval-shaped shells with strong radial ribs. These bivalves were adapted to burrowing into soft marine sediments, where they lived as filter feeders. Fossils of Pholadomya are widely distributed across Europe and beyond, making them important in understanding Cretaceous marine ecosystems.

Morphological Features

This specimen displays the key traits of Pholadomya:

• An elongate oval shell with gently rounded ends.
• Strong radial ornamentation with pronounced ribbing, a diagnostic feature of the genus.
• Evidence of growth lines, recording the shell’s development over its lifetime.
• Adaptations consistent with a burrowing lifestyle in soft marine substrates.

These features not only make Pholadomya easy to recognise but also highlight its ecological role within the marine food web of the Cretaceous seas.

Palaeoecological and Scientific Importance

Pholadomya was an infaunal bivalve, meaning it lived buried within soft sediments, where it filtered nutrients from the surrounding water. This ecological adaptation made it a significant contributor to the marine ecosystem. Its abundance and distribution across different Cretaceous marine deposits also make it useful in stratigraphic studies and in reconstructing palaeoenvironments.

The Chalk Marl biozones in East Sussex, where this specimen was found, provide important stratigraphic markers for correlating rock layers across the UK and Europe. Fossils such as Pholadomya contribute to refining our understanding of ancient marine biodiversity and the conditions of depositional environments during the Cretaceous.

Collecting and Display Value

With its combination of scientific value and aesthetic appeal, this fossil bivalve Pholadomya makes an excellent addition to any fossil collection. Its origin from Southernham Quarry, a site of high geological and palaeontological significance, enhances its desirability. This specimen is not only a piece of natural history but also an educational resource, allowing collectors to better understand the life and environments of Earth’s past oceans.

Provenance and Authenticity

• Species: Pholadomya
• Age: Cretaceous
• Geological Unit: Chalk Marl
• Locality: Southernham Quarry Pit, East Sussex, UK

This fossil is sold with a Certificate of Authenticity, guaranteeing its status as a genuine, carefully sourced specimen. The photos show the exact fossil you will receive, with a scale cube for accurate sizing.

This Cretaceous fossil bivalve, Pholadomya, from Southernham Quarry Pit is a fine example of Britain’s fossil heritage. With its clear morphological detail, secure provenance, and scientific significance, it represents both a collectible and educational specimen of lasting value.