Description
Enhance your fossil collection with this authentic specimen of Ventriculites chonoides, a fossil sponge from the Upper Chalk deposits of the Cretaceous period, found in Dorset, UK. Fossils of this nature are a rare and scientifically important window into marine ecosystems that existed over 80 million years ago.
Fossil Type: Sponge (Porifera)
Species: Ventriculites chonoides
Geological Period: Late Cretaceous (~100.5 to 66 million years ago)
Geological Formation: Upper Chalk Formation
Location: Dorset, United Kingdom
Scale Rule: Squares/Cube = 1cm (Refer to photo for full sizing)
Specimen: The exact specimen shown in the photograph is what you will receive
Authenticity: All of our fossils are 100% genuine specimens and come with a Certificate of Authenticity
Geological and Paleontological Information
Ventriculites chonoides is a species of siliceous sponge known for its elegant tubular or vase-like shape and finely preserved skeletal structure. These sponges lived in the warm, shallow seas that once covered much of Europe during the Late Cretaceous.
- Phylum: Porifera
- Class: Hexactinellida (glass sponges) or Demospongiae (classification debated)
- Order: Lychniscosida (tentative)
- Family: Ventriculitidae
- Genus: Ventriculites
- Species: chonoides
- Geological Stage: Typically assigned to the Campanian or Santonian stages of the Upper Cretaceous, depending on local stratigraphy
- Depositional Environment: Warm, shallow marine shelf with calcareous sedimentation, forming the chalk-rich seafloor that aided the preservation of delicate sponge forms
- Morphological Features: Characterised by a tall, fluted, sometimes funnel-shaped body with vertical ridges and a central cavity; skeletal elements may include a lattice of siliceous spicules
- Notable: Fossil sponges such as Ventriculites are uncommon and highly valued for their intricate structures, which provide insight into Cretaceous marine biodiversity and sedimentary environments
- Biozone: Commonly found in association with inoceramid bivalves and other Upper Chalk fauna; precise biozone identification depends on locality
- Identifier: Initially described in 19th-century British paleontological literature; recognized for its detailed preservation and unique morphological features
Why This Fossil is Special
Ventriculites chonoides specimens are rare and prized among collectors for their architectural elegance and exceptional fossil preservation. This sponge fossil from Dorset showcases the delicate mineralization of an extinct marine organism from one of the most iconic chalk formations in the world.
Why Buy From Us?
- 100% genuine fossil with Certificate of Authenticity
- Exact item in the photo is the one you’ll receive
- Ethically sourced from historically important UK fossil sites
- Ideal for collectors, educators, and anyone fascinated by prehistoric marine life
Own a remarkable piece of Cretaceous ocean history with this beautifully preserved Ventriculites chonoides sponge fossil from the Upper Chalk of Dorset, UK—a rare and exquisite survivor of Earth’s marine past, over 80 million years old.
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