Lissodus leiodus Hybodont Shark Tooth Fossil Jurassic Oxfordshire UK Rare

Description

Authentic Lissodus leiodus Hybodont Shark Tooth from the Jurassic of Oxfordshire

This genuine fossil specimen is a Hybodont shark tooth from the species Lissodus leiodus, recovered from the White Limestone Formation at Ditchley Road Quarry near Charlbury in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. The fossil dates to the Middle Jurassic period during the Bathonian stage, approximately 166–168 million years ago, when warm shallow seas covered much of southern Britain.

The tooth shown in the photographs is the exact specimen you will receive, carefully selected for preservation and scientific interest. The fossil includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card, confirming that the specimen is a genuine natural fossil.

Please refer to the photographs for full sizing and scale of the specimen.

Geological Origin – White Limestone Formation

The fossil originates from the White Limestone Formation, a well-known Middle Jurassic geological unit across parts of southern and central England. In the region around Charlbury and the wider Oxfordshire area, these deposits represent shallow marine carbonate sediments formed during the Bathonian stage of the Middle Jurassic.

During this time, much of the United Kingdom lay beneath warm, shallow epicontinental seas situated at subtropical latitudes. The White Limestone Formation consists predominantly of pale micritic limestone deposited in low-energy marine shelf and lagoonal environments. Fine carbonate sediments accumulated on the seabed, preserving a diverse range of marine organisms including fish, sharks, crustaceans, echinoderms, and molluscs.

Fossil shark teeth from this formation are relatively uncommon and provide important insight into the diversity of early sharks that inhabited Jurassic seas.

The Hybodont Shark – Lissodus leiodus

Lissodus leiodus belonged to the extinct group of sharks known as hybodonts, classified within the Order Hybodontiformes. These sharks were widespread from the Late Devonian through the Cretaceous and were among the dominant shark groups in many Mesozoic marine and freshwater ecosystems.

The genus Lissodus is particularly known for its distinctive teeth adapted for crushing and grinding prey. Unlike the slicing teeth of many modern sharks, hybodont teeth were often suited to durophagous feeding, meaning they specialised in consuming hard-shelled organisms.

Typical features of Lissodus leiodus teeth include:

• A broad, low crown designed for crushing prey
• Smooth enamel surfaces with subtle ridging
• Strong root structures for anchoring within the jaw
• Adaptations suited for feeding on shelled invertebrates

These teeth indicate that Lissodus sharks likely fed on bivalves, crustaceans, and other hard-bodied marine organisms that lived on or within the seabed sediments.

Jurassic Marine Ecosystem

During the Middle Jurassic, the seas covering what is now Oxfordshire supported a thriving marine ecosystem. Carbonate platforms and shallow lagoons provided habitats for a wide range of organisms including ammonites, brachiopods, bivalves, echinoderms, marine reptiles, and numerous species of fish.

Hybodont sharks such as Lissodus leiodus occupied an important ecological niche within these marine environments. Their specialised dentition allowed them to exploit prey types that many other predators could not easily consume. This adaptation helped hybodont sharks remain successful and widespread throughout much of the Mesozoic Era.

The discovery of shark teeth within formations such as the White Limestone provides valuable evidence for reconstructing Jurassic marine food webs and predator-prey relationships.

Collector Information

• Species: Lissodus leiodus
• Fossil Type: Hybodont shark tooth
• Animal Group: Shark (Order Hybodontiformes)
• Geological Age: Middle Jurassic, Bathonian Stage
• Formation: White Limestone Formation
• Locality: Ditchley Road Quarry, Charlbury, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
• Preservation: Natural fossil tooth
• Authenticity: 100% genuine fossil specimen
• Documentation: Includes Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee card

This Jurassic shark tooth represents a fascinating example of early shark evolution and marine life from the Middle Jurassic seas of Britain. Fossils from Oxfordshire’s White Limestone Formation are highly desirable among collectors and researchers due to their geological significance.

An excellent addition to any fossil collection, natural history display, shark fossil collection, or geological educational set, this specimen provides a tangible connection to the marine ecosystems that flourished in the Jurassic oceans over 160 million years ago.