Description
Genuine Pachyhemihoplites thomeli Ammonite Fossil
This genuine ammonite fossil is identified as Pachyhemihoplites thomeli and comes from Saint-Laurent-de-l’Escarène in Alpes-Maritimes, France. It dates to the Barremian stage of the Lower Cretaceous. The photographs show the actual carefully chosen fossil offered for sale, so the ammonite pictured is the exact specimen you will receive.
Barremian Lower Cretaceous Age
The Barremian is an Early Cretaceous stage dating to approximately 129 to 125 million years ago. During this interval, southeastern France lay within the marine realm of the ancient Tethys Ocean. Warm waters supported ammonites, belemnites, bivalves, gastropods, echinoids, corals, and many other organisms.
After death, an ammonite shell could settle onto the seabed and become buried by fine marine sediment. Compaction, mineral replacement, and lithification preserved the shell or its internal mould. Later Alpine uplift, folding, erosion, and weathering raised these deposits above sea level and exposed fossil-bearing rocks in the Alpes-Maritimes.
Pachyhemihoplites thomeli
Pachyhemihoplites was an extinct marine cephalopod with a planispirally coiled shell divided internally into chambers. The living animal occupied the final body chamber, while earlier sealed chambers helped regulate buoyancy. Ammonites were relatives of modern squid, cuttlefish, and nautiluses, although they formed their own highly diverse and now extinct group.
Fossil specialists distinguish ammonites by comparing whorl breadth, shell compression, umbilical width, ribbing, tubercles, constrictions, and the form of the outer margin. The name Pachyhemihoplites suggests a comparatively robust shell expression within its group. Examine the photographs for the coiled whorls, strong ornament, umbilical area, outer edge, natural matrix, and individual preservation visible on this Pachyhemihoplites thomeli specimen.
Ammonites and Geological Dating
Ammonites evolved rapidly and were widely distributed through Mesozoic seas. Their changing shell forms make them valuable index fossils, enabling geologists to compare marine rock sequences and determine relative ages. Barremian ammonite assemblages from southeastern France are particularly important in the correlation of Lower Cretaceous strata around the former Tethyan region.
A specimen identified to species and linked to a precise locality carries richer geological context than one described only as broadly Cretaceous. It can be compared with related ammonites to illustrate evolutionary succession, geographical distribution, and diversity within Early Cretaceous marine communities.
Tethyan Marine Environment
During the Barremian, carbonate mud, marl, and fine sediment accumulated in marine basins and shelf settings connected to the Tethys Ocean. Water depth, currents, oxygenation, biological productivity, and sediment supply influenced both the living community and the conditions under which shells were preserved.
The chambered shell illustrates adaptation in a free-swimming cephalopod. Its construction combined strength with buoyancy control, while robust ribbing and shell form may have reinforced the shell and influenced hydrodynamics. Each fossil preserves a unique balance of original shell, mineral replacement, internal mould, surrounding sediment, and later geological alteration.
Saint-Laurent-de-l’Escarène Provenance
Saint-Laurent-de-l’Escarène lies in southeastern France within the dramatic foothills of the Maritime Alps. The region exposes thick sequences of Mesozoic marine rocks that were deposited in or near the Tethyan realm before later Alpine deformation and uplift. A documented Alpes-Maritimes provenance adds scientific, geographical, and educational value to this ammonite.
This specimen can complement a collection arranged by French locality, geological stage, ammonite genus, fossil group, or ancient marine environment. Its origin also demonstrates the remarkable transformation of former seabed deposits into the mountainous landscapes of modern southeastern France.
Natural Fossil Character
Natural colour, mineral texture, small breaks, areas of wear, and variations in preservation are expected features of an authentic fossil rather than manufacturing defects. They reflect burial, mineralisation, rock formation, tectonic uplift, and weathering over immense geological time. No two ammonites preserve exactly the same combination of detail.
The multiple photographs show this exact Pachyhemihoplites thomeli specimen from useful angles. They allow close inspection of its condition, coiling, ribbing, matrix, proportions, and display qualities. Full sizing is shown in the photographs, which provide the clearest scale information for this individual fossil. The images are not stock photographs and do not represent a similar item.
Certificate of Authenticity
This genuine fossil includes a generic Certificate of Authenticity card with a lifetime guarantee. Its Barremian age, detailed ammonite identity, and Saint-Laurent-de-l’Escarène provenance make it an appealing addition to a fossil cabinet, study collection, office display, or educational setting. It is also a thoughtful gift for anyone interested in French fossils, Lower Cretaceous geology, ammonite evolution, Alpine geology, or authentic natural history specimens.
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