Hypacanthoplites plesiotypicus Fossil Rare Lower Albian Cretaceous Germany COA

Description

Rare Hypacanthoplites plesiotypicus Fossil from Germany

This listing features a rare Hypacanthoplites plesiotypicus fossil from the Lower Albian stage of the Early Cretaceous, discovered in Vohrum, Hanover, Germany. Dating back approximately 113–109 million years, this ammonite fossil represents an important and scientifically significant species within the diverse ammonite fauna of the Albian seas. The fossil pictured is the exact specimen you will receive, carefully chosen for its preservation and detail. Each purchase comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, guaranteeing it as a genuine fossil specimen.

Geological Context and Age

This ammonite comes from the Lower Albian stage of the Early Cretaceous period, a time marked by extensive marine transgressions across Europe. Northern Germany was submerged beneath shallow epicontinental seas, creating environments rich in marine life. These seas fostered the rapid evolutionary diversification of ammonites such as Hypacanthoplites, making them crucial markers for biostratigraphy and geological correlation. Fossils from this interval provide insights into both marine ecology and the broader environmental changes that shaped Cretaceous Europe.

Scientific Classification

• Fossil Type: Ammonite
• Genus: Hypacanthoplites
• Species: Hypacanthoplites plesiotypicus
• Order: Ammonitida
• Superfamily: Acanthoceratoidea
• Family: Hoplitidae
• Age: Lower Albian, Early Cretaceous (c. 113–109 million years ago)
• Locality: Vohrum, Hanover, Germany

Morphological Features

Hypacanthoplites plesiotypicus exhibits a distinctive shell morphology typical of the genus:

• Robust, strongly ribbed shell, with ornamentation extending across the flanks.
• Tubercles and nodes present along rib intersections, giving the shell a textured appearance.
• A moderately compressed whorl profile, with a rounded to slightly keeled venter.
• Complex suture lines, reflecting the intricate internal chamber divisions that supported buoyancy control.

These morphological traits highlight its adaptive role as a free-swimming predator, likely feeding on small crustaceans and other planktonic or nektonic organisms within the warm Cretaceous seas.

Paleoecological Importance

As a genus, Hypacanthoplites is highly valued in paleontology because of its biostratigraphic utility. The species evolved relatively quickly, making it an excellent index fossil for correlating Albian-age deposits across Europe. In Vohrum and the wider Hanover area, the preservation of ammonites in fine-grained marine sediments allows for detailed study of their morphology and evolution.

The environment in which this fossil formed was a shallow marine shelf ecosystem, where fine silt and clay accumulated, rapidly burying ammonite shells after death and protecting them from destruction. These conditions have given us fossils that retain remarkable detail, making them both scientifically valuable and visually striking for collectors.

Collector’s Value and Rarity

Fossils of Hypacanthoplites plesiotypicus are not commonly available on the open market, especially from the renowned Vohrum locality in Hanover. Their rarity, coupled with their distinctive morphology, makes them highly sought after by collectors, educators, and museums. Unlike more commonly encountered ammonites, this species offers both aesthetic appeal and scientific significance, adding depth to any collection of Cretaceous fossils.

Owning such a specimen connects you directly with the story of marine life during the Early Cretaceous, when ammonites were among the most diverse and ecologically important cephalopods in the seas.

Key Details

• Fossil: Hypacanthoplites plesiotypicus Ammonite Fossil
• Age: Lower Albian, Early Cretaceous (c. 113–109 million years ago)
• Location: Vohrum, Hanover, Germany
• Family: Hoplitidae
• Distinct Features: Strong ribbing, tubercles, compressed shell, intricate sutures
• Authentic fossil with Certificate of Authenticity
• Exact specimen shown in photographs with 1 cm scale cube for reference

This specimen offers a rare opportunity to acquire a genuine Hypacanthoplites plesiotypicus ammonite fossil from Germany, a beautifully preserved and scientifically important relic of the Cretaceous seas.