Paragastrioeras aff jossae Fossil Goniatite Middle Permian W Timor – Genuine Authentic Prehistoric Marine Cephalopod with Certificate

Description

Rare Middle Permian Goniatite from West Timor

This listing offers a Paragastrioeras aff. jossae fossil goniatite from the Middle Permian period, discovered in the marine deposits of Besleu, West Timor. This exceptional specimen is notable for its high-quality preservation, distinct coiling, and fine suture patterns. Carefully selected for both scientific significance and visual appeal, it is an ideal acquisition for serious collectors and enthusiasts of ancient marine life. The photographs show the exact specimen you will receive, ensuring complete authenticity.

Geological Age & Formation

Paragastrioeras aff. jossae lived during the Middle Permian, approximately 272 to 260 million years ago. At that time, West Timor was part of a tropical marine environment within the ancient superocean of Panthalassa. The warm, shallow seas in this region provided ideal conditions for the growth and preservation of marine life, including ammonoids such as goniatites. Over millions of years, the shell of this specimen was buried in fine marine sediments, undergoing mineralisation that preserved its intricate details.

The fossil comes from the well-known Besleu locality, recognised for yielding marine invertebrates from the Permian with exceptional clarity. Its geological context offers insight into the paleoecology of the region during a critical period in Earth’s history, preceding the great Permian-Triassic extinction event.

Species Identification & Morphology

Belonging to the family Paragastrioceratidae within the order Goniatitida, Paragastrioeras aff. jossae is characterised by its tightly coiled planispiral shell, ornamented with fine ribbing and complex goniatitic suture lines. Unlike the more elaborate suture patterns seen in later ammonites, goniatites display relatively simpler yet distinctive angular sutures, which are clearly visible in this specimen.

The shell’s morphology, including its rounded whorls and proportional coiling, reflects adaptations for a nektonic lifestyle. This shape allowed the animal to maintain buoyancy and manoeuvre efficiently in the water column, hunting smaller marine invertebrates.

Collector Highlights

• Preservation: Excellent, with well-defined sutures and intact shell form.
• Authenticity: Guaranteed 100% genuine fossil, supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity.
• Provenance: Besleu, West Timor – Middle Permian marine deposits.
• Display Quality: A visually striking fossil suitable for both scientific reference and decorative display.
• Rarity: Permian goniatites from Timor are uncommon on the fossil market, adding to this specimen’s desirability.

Paleoenvironment & Scientific Importance

During the Middle Permian, the tropical marine environment of what is now West Timor supported a diverse ecosystem of brachiopods, bivalves, crinoids, and cephalopods. Paragastrioeras aff. jossae occupied an active predatory niche, using its tentacles to capture prey and its strong beak-like jaws to break through shells.

Goniatites such as this one are important index fossils, enabling geologists to date and correlate marine rock layers across different regions. Their restricted stratigraphic range and distinctive shell morphology make them invaluable in paleontological research.

A Unique Piece of Ancient Marine History

This Paragastrioeras aff. jossae fossil goniatite offers a rare opportunity to own a well-preserved cephalopod from over 260 million years ago. Its combination of rarity, beauty, and scientific relevance ensures it will be a treasured specimen in any fossil collection.

All of our fossils are 100% genuine specimens and come with a Certificate of Authenticity. The fossil pictured is the exact specimen you will receive.