Harpoceras Somerset Fossil Ammonite, Beacon Limestone Jurassic, Ilminster Somerset UK – Genuine Specimen with COA

Description

Available now is a beautiful and authentic Harpoceras fossil ammonite, collected from the iconic Beacon Limestone Formation near Ilminster, in Somerset, United Kingdom. This specimen comes from the Early Jurassic Period, a time when the region was part of a shallow, warm marine environment teeming with life.

Taxonomy and Identification:

• Genus: Harpoceras
• Order: Ammonitida
• Superfamily: Hildoceratoidea
• Family: Hildoceratidae
• First described by Waagen in 1869, the genus Harpoceras is well-known among Jurassic ammonites for its elegant morphology and stratigraphic importance.

Geological Context:

• Formation: Beacon Limestone
• Stage: Upper Toarcian, Lower Jurassic
• Biozone: Associated with the Harpoceras serpentinum Zone (depending on exact stratigraphic position within the Beacon Limestone)
• Age: Approximately 183 to 180 million years old
• Depositional Environment: Shallow marine carbonate platform, with fine-grained limestones and calcareous muds, ideal for preserving ammonite shells in high fidelity

Morphological Features:

• Characteristic flattened whorls with a sharply keeled venter
• Ribbing tends to be fine and sinuous, sweeping back from the umbilicus toward the venter
• The shell is typically involute, with only the outer whorl visible
• May show subtle suture patterns and preserved growth lines

Notable Information:

• Harpoceras is often used as a biozonal index fossil, marking the Toarcian time intervals in global Jurassic stratigraphy
• Ammonites like this one were nektonic predators, living in open marine settings and feeding on smaller marine organisms

This specimen is accompanied by clear photos, including a 1cm scale cube for precise sizing. The fossil pictured is the exact specimen you will receive, carefully selected for its scientific and aesthetic value.

Authenticity Guaranteed: We guarantee that this is a 100% genuine fossil and provide a Certificate of Authenticity with every purchase. Ideal for collectors, educators, and anyone passionate about Earth’s prehistoric past.

Please review the images for condition and exact size. A wonderful opportunity to acquire a quality Jurassic ammonite from one of Britain’s most celebrated fossil localities.