Description
Morphoceras multiforme Ammonite Fossil from Dorset
Genuine Jurassic Fossil Specimen
This listing is for the exact Morphoceras multiforme ammonite fossil shown in the photographs. It is a genuine natural specimen from Sherborne, Dorset, UK, collected from rocks of the Great Oolite Group dating to the Bathonian Stage of the Middle Jurassic. The carefully chosen fossil has been photographed individually, so the specimen pictured is the specimen you will receive. For full dimensions and a clear visual guide to scale, please refer to the sizing photograph included with the listing.
Geological Age and Formation
The Bathonian Stage spans part of the Middle Jurassic Period, approximately 168 to 166 million years ago. During this interval, southern Britain lay beneath and beside warm, shallow seas. Sediments accumulated across carbonate platforms, coastal environments and marine basins, later becoming the limestones, marls and other strata associated with the Great Oolite Group. The Sherborne district is well known to fossil collectors for its Jurassic geology and for ammonites preserved in deposits that record changing marine conditions.
About Morphoceras multiforme
Morphoceras is an ammonite genus recognised for its strongly ornamented, coiled shell. Morphoceras multiforme belongs to the extinct ammonoid cephalopods, marine molluscs related more distantly to living squid, cuttlefish and nautiluses. In life, the animal occupied the final chamber of a chambered shell. Internal partitions called septa created a series of chambers that helped with buoyancy, while the shell’s external ribs added strength and produced the distinctive sculptural character prized by collectors.
The morphology of Morphoceras can include a relatively evolute coil, visible inner whorls and prominent ribbing that may divide as it crosses the flanks. Preservation varies naturally from specimen to specimen, and the photographs show this fossil’s individual surface detail, colour, matrix and completeness accurately. These natural variations are part of its geological authenticity rather than manufactured imperfections.
Scientific and Collecting Interest
Ammonites are valuable index fossils because many species evolved rapidly and had wide geographical distributions. Their remains help geologists correlate rock layers and interpret the relative ages of marine deposits. A Bathonian ammonite from Dorset therefore offers both an attractive display piece and a tangible record of the seas that covered the region during the Middle Jurassic.
This specimen is suitable for an established fossil collection, a geology study display, a natural history cabinet or a thoughtful gift for anyone interested in palaeontology and Britain’s Jurassic heritage. Its identifiable species, locality and geological context give it greater scientific and educational value than an unprovenanced decorative fossil.
Exact Specimen and Authenticity
You will receive the actual Morphoceras multiforme ammonite shown, not a stock photograph or a substitute. Please study every image for the specimen’s precise condition and use the sizing photograph for measurements. Fossils are natural objects and may show original matrix, ancient fractures, mineral variation or preparation marks consistent with their age and history.
A generic Certificate of Authenticity card with a lifetime guarantee is included. The fossil will be packed carefully to protect it in transit and to preserve the specimen exactly as presented.
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