Lepidotes mantelli Fossil Fish Scale – Early Cretaceous – Tunbridge Wells Sand – Rock-A-Nore Hastings UK

Description

Lepidotes mantelli Fossil Fish Scale – Early Cretaceous (Valanginian Stage) – Tunbridge Wells Sand Formation – Wealden Group – Rock-A-Nore, Hastings, East Sussex, UK

This listing features a genuine Lepidotes mantelli fossil fish scale, a beautifully preserved relic of a primitive ray-finned fish from the Early Cretaceous period. Found in the Tunbridge Wells Sand Formation at Rock-A-Nore, Hastings, this specimen is a fine example of vertebrate microfossils from the renowned Wealden Group of southern England.

Fossil Type: Fossilised Fish Scale

Species: Lepidotes mantelli

Order: Semionotiformes

Family: Lepidotidae

Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)

Geological Stage: Early Cretaceous – Valanginian (~135–140 million years ago)

Formation: Tunbridge Wells Sand Formation

Group: Wealden Group

Location: Rock-A-Nore, Hastings, East Sussex, England

Depositional Environment: Freshwater to brackish lagoons and rivers – floodplain channels and lakes typical of the Wealden paleoenvironment

Biozone/Zone: No formal ammonite zonation applicable to this terrestrial sequence

Formally Identified By: Species named in honour of Gideon Mantell, a 19th-century English geologist and palaeontologist

Morphology Features: Lepidotes scales are thick, rhomboid, and highly distinctive, with an enamel-like surface called ganoine. They typically show a peg-and-socket articulation and display a lustrous, often dark sheen. This scale retains its original form with fine surface ornamentation visible under light or magnification. These scales are part of the characteristic dermal armour of this ancient fish.

Geological Context: The Wealden Group represents a continental (non-marine) environment from the Early Cretaceous and is famous for its fossil diversity, including dinosaurs, fish, turtles, crocodiles, and plant remains. The Tunbridge Wells Sand Formation specifically represents alternating sands, silts, and clays deposited in low-energy environments like meandering rivers and lakes.

Condition: As shown in photographs. Natural scale fossil with detailed surface features. Scale Rule Squares / Cube = 1cm. See image for full sizing and visual reference.

Important Note:

All of our Fossils are 100% Genuine Specimens & come with a Certificate of Authenticity.

A scientifically valuable and visually distinctive fossil from the age of dinosaurs—perfect for collectors, educators, and palaeontology enthusiasts.