Lytoceras fimbricatum Fossil Ammonite Jurassic Upper Pliensbachian Blockley UK Specimen

Description

Lytoceras fimbricatum Fossil Ammonite from Blockley, Gloucestershire, UK

This listing is for a Lytoceras fimbricatum fossil ammonite, a distinctive and scientifically significant specimen from the Upper Pliensbachian stage of the Early Jurassic. Found in the renowned fossil-bearing strata of Blockley, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom, this specimen showcases the elegant form and complex sutures typical of the Lytoceratidae family. The exact ammonite in the photographs is the one you will receive, with a 1 cm scale cube included for accurate size reference. Every fossil is 100% genuine and will be supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity.

Geological Age and Setting – Upper Pliensbachian, Jurassic

This ammonite comes from the Upper Pliensbachian stage, approximately 190–183 million years ago, a time when southern England was submerged beneath warm shallow seas connected to the Tethys Ocean. The marine deposits of Blockley are part of the Lower Jurassic succession of the Cotswolds, an area celebrated for its rich fossil heritage. These fine sediments provided excellent conditions for preserving ammonites, brachiopods, bivalves, and other marine organisms.

The Pliensbachian stage is critical in Early Jurassic palaeontology as it represents an interval of significant ammonite diversification. Fossils from this time are widely used in biostratigraphy, helping scientists to correlate rock layers across Europe with remarkable precision.

Species and Classification

• Genus: Lytoceras
• Species: fimbricatum
• Order: Ammonitida
• Superfamily: Lytoceratoidea
• Family: Lytoceratidae

Lytoceras fimbricatum is a member of the Lytoceratidae, a family characterised by smooth to weakly ornamented shells and highly intricate suture lines. Unlike more common ribbed ammonites, Lytoceras is instantly recognisable for its clean, involute shell form and finely detailed sutures, making it both scientifically important and visually striking.

Morphological Features

The Lytoceras fimbricatum ammonite is defined by several notable features:

• Shell form: Involute coiling, with inner whorls concealed and the outer shell creating a smooth profile.
• Surface: Generally smooth or only weakly ornamented, distinguishing it from ribbed ammonites of the same age.
• Whorl profile: Rounded and symmetrical, giving the shell a graceful, flowing form.
• Sutures: Highly complex and deeply incised, forming elaborate patterns across the shell’s surface.

These features highlight the evolutionary distinctiveness of Lytoceratidae and contribute to the ammonite’s rarity in collections.

Stratigraphy and Scientific Importance

Lytoceras fimbricatum is a useful ammonite for defining Upper Pliensbachian ammonite zones, contributing to the refinement of Jurassic stratigraphy. Its occurrence in Blockley adds to the broader understanding of ammonite distribution across Europe during the Early Jurassic.

Collector and Display Value

• Collectors will prize this specimen for its rarity, provenance, and elegant preservation.
• Researchers and educators value it as an example of Lytoceratidae, a group that provides crucial insight into ammonite evolutionary history.
• For display purposes, its smooth shell and intricate sutures make it a visually appealing piece, ideal as a centrepiece in any fossil collection.

Authenticity and Guarantee

We guarantee that all of our fossils are 100% genuine specimens. This Lytoceras fimbricatum fossil ammonite has been carefully chosen for its scientific value, rarity, and display quality. Every purchase includes a Certificate of Authenticity, ensuring confidence in its provenance and geological age.

Key Information at a Glance

• Fossil Type: Ammonite
• Species: Lytoceras fimbricatum
• Geological Age: Upper Pliensbachian, Jurassic (~190–183 million years old)
• Locality: Blockley, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom
• Family: Lytoceratidae
• Order: Ammonitida
• Condition: Natural fossil with smooth shell and finely detailed sutures
• Authenticity: Guaranteed with Certificate of Authenticity

This Lytoceras fimbricatum ammonite fossil from Blockley, Gloucestershire is a scientifically valuable and visually elegant specimen, perfect for collectors, researchers, and enthusiasts of Britain’s Jurassic fossil record.