Description
Add an extraordinary example of ancient marine life to your fossil collection with this genuine Thecosmilia afinularis fossil coral from the Jurassic period, collected in Wiltshire, UK. Corals like Thecosmilia are key indicators of shallow marine reef environments from the Mesozoic Era and are highly sought after for their distinct polyp structure and reef-forming nature.
Fossil Type: Colonial Coral
Species: Thecosmilia afinularis
Geological Period: Jurassic (~201 to 145 million years ago)
Location: Wiltshire, England, UK
Scale Rule: Squares/Cube = 1cm (Please refer to the photo for full sizing)
Specimen: The item shown in the listing photo is the exact specimen you will receive
Authenticity: All of our fossils are 100% genuine specimens and come with a Certificate of Authenticity
Geological and Paleontological Information
Thecosmilia afinularis is an extinct colonial scleractinian (stony) coral that flourished in the warm, shallow seas of the Jurassic period. These corals formed reef-like structures and are commonly found in carbonate-rich sedimentary deposits, often alongside ammonites, bivalves, and other marine invertebrates.
- Phylum: Cnidaria
- Class: Anthozoa
- Order: Scleractinia (Stony Corals)
- Family: Thecosmiliidae
- Genus: Thecosmilia
- Species: afinularis
- Geological Stage: Often associated with the Bathonian or Oxfordian stages of the Middle to Late Jurassic (exact stratigraphy in Wiltshire varies)
- Depositional Environment: Shallow, warm marine environment with carbonate sedimentation ideal for coral reef development; typically in lagoonal or platform margin reef settings
- Morphological Features: Branching colonial coral with small, cup-like corallites (polyps) arranged in linear or clustered growth forms; calcareous skeletons show excellent preservation of septal structures
- Notable: Thecosmilia is one of the most recognizable Jurassic coral genera, often used in paleoenvironmental reconstructions of ancient reef systems in Europe
- Biozone: Not tied to a specific biozone but commonly found in marine units rich in marine fauna and invertebrate assemblages from the Middle Jurassic
- Identifier: Originally described in 19th-century European paleontological literature; historically significant in British stratigraphy and reef coral studies
Why This Fossil is Special
This specimen of Thecosmilia afinularis displays the intricate polyp structure that made these corals so successful during the Jurassic. Its branching form and visible skeletal detail offer an exceptional glimpse into Mesozoic reef ecology.
Why Buy From Us?
- 100% genuine fossil with Certificate of Authenticity
- Exact specimen in photo is the one you will receive
- Ethically sourced and professionally described
- Ideal for collectors, educators, or as a stunning natural display piece
Own a beautifully preserved piece of an ancient reef system with this fossil coral Thecosmilia afinularis from Jurassic-aged marine deposits in Wiltshire, UK—a rare and scientifically important relic from over 160 million years ago.
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