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Hoplites escrignollensis Ammonite Fossil Rare Middle Albian Cretaceous France COA

Hoplites escrignollensis Ammonite Fossil Rare Middle Albian Cretaceous France COA

£9.00

Selling Title

Hoplites escrignollensis Ammonite Fossil Rare Middle Albian Cretaceous France COA

Rare Hoplites escrignollensis Ammonite Fossil Middle Albian Cretaceous Salin Les Bains France Authentic with Certificate

Long Description

Rare Hoplites escrignollensis Ammonite Fossil from France

This listing features a rare Hoplites escrignollensis ammonite fossil from the renowned Salin-les-Bains, Aubois region of France. Dating to the Middle Albian stage of the Cretaceous period (approximately 107–104 million years ago), this beautifully preserved specimen represents one of the classic ammonites from Europe’s Cretaceous seas. The fossil pictured is the exact specimen you will receive, chosen for its quality, detail, and scientific significance. Every purchase is supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity, guaranteeing its genuine origin.

Geological Setting and Formation

The Middle Albian is part of the Early Cretaceous, a time of high sea levels and warm climates. The Salin-les-Bains locality is well known for its marine clay and limestone deposits, which provide excellent conditions for fossil preservation. These deposits capture an ancient seaway teeming with marine life, where ammonites thrived as fast-moving predators and important parts of the marine ecosystem.

Hoplites species, including Hoplites escrignollensis, serve as key biostratigraphic index fossils for the Middle Albian. Their distinctive shell morphology enables geologists to precisely date and correlate strata across Europe and beyond, making them vital to the study of Earth’s geological history.

Scientific Classification

  • Fossil Type: Ammonite
  • Genus: Hoplites
  • Species: Hoplites escrignollensis
  • Order: Ammonitida
  • Superfamily: Acanthoceratoidea
  • Family: Hoplitoidea (Hoplites group, traditionally within Hoplitidae)
  • Geological Stage: Middle Albian, Early Cretaceous
  • Locality: Salin-les-Bains, Aubois, France

Morphological Features

Hoplites escrignollensis is noted for its striking and diagnostic features that make it instantly recognisable among collectors:

  • Strongly ribbed shell, with ribs extending from the umbilicus across the flanks to the outer edge.
  • Presence of ventrolateral tubercles, giving the fossil a textured and distinctive appearance.
  • Moderately involute coiling, with whorls partially covering the previous ones.
  • A narrow, keeled venter often showing the continuation of ribs across the shell’s outer edge.
  • Complex suture lines with deep lobes and saddles, typical of ammonites in this group.

These features not only give the fossil an appealing three-dimensional structure but also reflect its evolutionary adaptations for life in open marine waters.

Paleoecology and Importance

Hoplites escrignollensis lived during a time when shallow epicontinental seas spread across much of Europe. This species was a free-swimming predator, likely preying on smaller molluscs, crustaceans, and other invertebrates. Its strong ribbing and tuberculation may have provided hydrodynamic strength and defense against predators.

Scientifically, Hoplites is among the most important index fossils for the Albian, frequently used to define biostratigraphic zones. Its widespread distribution in Europe makes it invaluable for correlating rock layers and reconstructing ancient marine environments.

Collector’s Value and Rarity

Ammonites from Salin-les-Bains are prized for their scientific and aesthetic qualities. Hoplites escrignollensis is not as commonly found as some other ammonites, adding to its rarity and desirability among collectors. Its well-defined ribbing and tuberculation make it a highly decorative specimen, perfect for display as well as for inclusion in any serious fossil collection.

With its blend of scientific importance, rarity, and natural beauty, this specimen represents an excellent opportunity to own a genuine piece of Cretaceous prehistory from France.

Key Details

  • Species: Hoplites escrignollensis
  • Type: Ammonite Fossil
  • Age: Middle Albian, Early Cretaceous (107–104 million years ago)
  • Formation/Region: Marine deposits of Salin-les-Bains, Aubois, France
  • Features: Ribbed shell, tubercles, keeled venter, complex sutures
  • Authenticity: Comes with Certificate of Authenticity
  • Scale Reference: 1 cm cube shown in photographs for sizing
  • Exact Specimen: The fossil in the photographs is the one you will receive

This is a rare and scientifically valuable Hoplites escrignollensis ammonite fossil—a striking and authentic relic of the Cretaceous seas of France.

(Actual as seen)

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Description

Selling Title

Hoplites escrignollensis Ammonite Fossil Rare Middle Albian Cretaceous France COA

Rare Hoplites escrignollensis Ammonite Fossil Middle Albian Cretaceous Salin Les Bains France Authentic with Certificate

Long Description

Rare Hoplites escrignollensis Ammonite Fossil from France

This listing features a rare Hoplites escrignollensis ammonite fossil from the renowned Salin-les-Bains, Aubois region of France. Dating to the Middle Albian stage of the Cretaceous period (approximately 107–104 million years ago), this beautifully preserved specimen represents one of the classic ammonites from Europe’s Cretaceous seas. The fossil pictured is the exact specimen you will receive, chosen for its quality, detail, and scientific significance. Every purchase is supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity, guaranteeing its genuine origin.

Geological Setting and Formation

The Middle Albian is part of the Early Cretaceous, a time of high sea levels and warm climates. The Salin-les-Bains locality is well known for its marine clay and limestone deposits, which provide excellent conditions for fossil preservation. These deposits capture an ancient seaway teeming with marine life, where ammonites thrived as fast-moving predators and important parts of the marine ecosystem.

Hoplites species, including Hoplites escrignollensis, serve as key biostratigraphic index fossils for the Middle Albian. Their distinctive shell morphology enables geologists to precisely date and correlate strata across Europe and beyond, making them vital to the study of Earth’s geological history.

Scientific Classification

  • Fossil Type: Ammonite
  • Genus: Hoplites
  • Species: Hoplites escrignollensis
  • Order: Ammonitida
  • Superfamily: Acanthoceratoidea
  • Family: Hoplitoidea (Hoplites group, traditionally within Hoplitidae)
  • Geological Stage: Middle Albian, Early Cretaceous
  • Locality: Salin-les-Bains, Aubois, France

Morphological Features

Hoplites escrignollensis is noted for its striking and diagnostic features that make it instantly recognisable among collectors:

  • Strongly ribbed shell, with ribs extending from the umbilicus across the flanks to the outer edge.
  • Presence of ventrolateral tubercles, giving the fossil a textured and distinctive appearance.
  • Moderately involute coiling, with whorls partially covering the previous ones.
  • A narrow, keeled venter often showing the continuation of ribs across the shell’s outer edge.
  • Complex suture lines with deep lobes and saddles, typical of ammonites in this group.

These features not only give the fossil an appealing three-dimensional structure but also reflect its evolutionary adaptations for life in open marine waters.

Paleoecology and Importance

Hoplites escrignollensis lived during a time when shallow epicontinental seas spread across much of Europe. This species was a free-swimming predator, likely preying on smaller molluscs, crustaceans, and other invertebrates. Its strong ribbing and tuberculation may have provided hydrodynamic strength and defense against predators.

Scientifically, Hoplites is among the most important index fossils for the Albian, frequently used to define biostratigraphic zones. Its widespread distribution in Europe makes it invaluable for correlating rock layers and reconstructing ancient marine environments.

Collector’s Value and Rarity

Ammonites from Salin-les-Bains are prized for their scientific and aesthetic qualities. Hoplites escrignollensis is not as commonly found as some other ammonites, adding to its rarity and desirability among collectors. Its well-defined ribbing and tuberculation make it a highly decorative specimen, perfect for display as well as for inclusion in any serious fossil collection.

With its blend of scientific importance, rarity, and natural beauty, this specimen represents an excellent opportunity to own a genuine piece of Cretaceous prehistory from France.

Key Details

  • Species: Hoplites escrignollensis
  • Type: Ammonite Fossil
  • Age: Middle Albian, Early Cretaceous (107–104 million years ago)
  • Formation/Region: Marine deposits of Salin-les-Bains, Aubois, France
  • Features: Ribbed shell, tubercles, keeled venter, complex sutures
  • Authenticity: Comes with Certificate of Authenticity
  • Scale Reference: 1 cm cube shown in photographs for sizing
  • Exact Specimen: The fossil in the photographs is the one you will receive

This is a rare and scientifically valuable Hoplites escrignollensis ammonite fossil—a striking and authentic relic of the Cretaceous seas of France.

Additional information

Era

Cretaceous
Origin

France

Cretaceous Information

The Cretaceous Period (145–66 million years ago) was the final era of the Mesozoic, marked by the dominance of dinosaurs and the rise of flowering plants. It had a warm, greenhouse climate, with high sea levels that created vast shallow inland seas. Marine life flourished, including mosasaurs, ammonites, and rudist reefs, while the land was ruled by iconic dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, and Spinosaurus. Mammals and birds diversified, and insects thrived. The period ended with the mass extinction event, likely caused by an asteroid impact, wiping out the dinosaurs and paving the way for the rise of mammals in the Cenozoic.

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