Description
Mantelliceras dixoni Ammonite Fossil
This listing features a striking Mantelliceras dixoni Ammonite Fossil from the Lower Cenomanian stage of the Late Cretaceous, collected in Sarthe, France. At approximately 100–96 million years old, this ammonite is both scientifically important and visually distinctive, representing one of the hallmark species of the Cenomanian. The fossil pictured is the exact specimen you will receive, with a 1 cm scale cube included for accurate sizing. Every fossil is guaranteed 100% genuine and is supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity.
Geological Context – Cenomanian of Sarthe, France
This fossil originates from the Cenomanian deposits of Sarthe, a region in northwestern France known for its well-preserved marine Cretaceous fossils. During the Cenomanian stage, high global sea levels created widespread shallow seas across Europe, linked to the Tethys and North Atlantic Oceans. Warm, nutrient-rich waters supported diverse marine life, with ammonites, belemnites, inoceramid bivalves, and echinoids all flourishing in these environments.
The Cenomanian is a critical stage in Earth history, marking the onset of the Late Cretaceous and associated with global sea-level highs and extensive chalk deposition. Fossils from Sarthe and nearby regions are particularly significant because they have been used extensively in biostratigraphic frameworks to correlate Cenomanian marine deposits across Europe.
Species Overview – Mantelliceras dixoni
This ammonite has been identified as Mantelliceras dixoni, belonging to the order Ammonitida, superfamily Acanthoceratoidea, and family Acanthoceratidae. The genus Mantelliceras is a key ammonite group of the Cenomanian, widely distributed and used in stratigraphic studies.
Mantelliceras dixoni is characterised by its moderately involute shell, with strong, prominent ribs and distinctive tubercles along the ventrolateral shoulders. The ornamentation is bold and diagnostic, making the species easily recognisable. Its robust ribbing and tuberculation provided both shell strength and hydrodynamic efficiency, allowing it to thrive as a nektonic predator in open marine environments.
This species is also the defining ammonite for the Mantelliceras dixoni Biozone, one of the key Cenomanian ammonite zones, making it of great scientific importance for global stratigraphic correlation.
Paleontological Importance
Mantelliceras dixoni holds a central place in Cenomanian biostratigraphy. Its restricted stratigraphic range and distinctive morphology make it one of the most important ammonite index fossils of the stage. Its occurrence in Sarthe provides a reference point for correlating Cenomanian strata across northwestern Europe, ensuring consistency in global geological timescales.
In addition, Mantelliceras dixoni highlights the evolutionary success of the Acanthoceratidae, which diversified extensively during the Late Cretaceous. Its striking morphology illustrates adaptive strategies for survival in dynamic mid-Cretaceous marine ecosystems.
Collector’s and Educational Value
This Mantelliceras dixoni ammonite fossil is an excellent specimen for collectors of Cretaceous ammonites and French fossils. Its provenance from Sarthe, France, enhances its value, as this locality is known for yielding scientifically significant ammonites of exceptional quality. With its bold ribbing and striking shell form, it makes an impressive display piece.
For students and educators, it serves as a highly useful teaching specimen, illustrating ammonite morphology, biozonation, and the paleoenvironmental conditions of the Cenomanian seas.
Guarantee of Authenticity
- 100% genuine Mantelliceras dixoni ammonite fossil
- Supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity
- The exact specimen shown in the photographs will be sent
This is a rare opportunity to acquire a scientifically important and beautifully preserved Mantelliceras dixoni Ammonite Fossil from the Lower Cenomanian of Sarthe, France, a classic specimen of the Cretaceous seas.
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