Peltoceratoides Ammonite Fossil Rare Middle Oxfordian Jurassic Woodham UK Genuine

Description

Authentic Peltoceratoides Ammonite Fossil from the Jurassic of England

This listing features a rare Peltoceratoides ammonite fossil from the Middle Oxfordian stage of the Jurassic period, found in Woodham, United Kingdom. Estimated at around 160 million years old, this specimen represents a fascinating survivor of the Jurassic seas, where ammonites flourished as dominant marine invertebrates. Each fossil is individually selected for its preservation and detail, making it a valuable addition to any collection of natural history.

Your purchase includes the actual specimen pictured, with images taken alongside a 1 cm scale cube to provide accurate dimensions. All of our fossils are 100% genuine specimens and are supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity for complete assurance of provenance.

Geological Context – Middle Oxfordian, Jurassic

The Oxfordian stage (approximately 163.5–157.3 million years ago) marks the earliest division of the Late Jurassic and is renowned for its rich fossil record. The deposits at Woodham are particularly well known for yielding rare ammonite taxa such as Peltoceratoides, which are prized for their scientific importance and striking morphology.

During this time, large portions of what is now the UK were submerged beneath shallow epicontinental seas. These calm marine environments allowed for the accumulation of fine sediments, preserving delicate shell structures in detail. Fossils from this region help paleontologists reconstruct the complex biodiversity of the Oxfordian seas and their role in Jurassic ecosystems.

Scientific Classification

• Genus: Peltoceratoides
• Family: Perisphinctidae
• Superfamily: Perisphinctoidea
• Order: Ammonitida
• Geological Stage: Middle Oxfordian, Jurassic
• Locality: Woodham, United Kingdom

Distinctive Morphological Features

Ammonites of the genus Peltoceratoides are highly distinctive within the perisphinctid lineage. Recognisable traits often include:

• Strong ribbing that radiates across the whorls, creating an elegant spiral ornamentation.
• A planispiral coiled shell, typical of ammonites, giving it a perfectly balanced, disc-like form.
• Tubercles or nodes along certain ribs, a feature that may have aided hydrodynamics or provided additional shell strength.
• A combination of broad, rounded whorls and pronounced ornamentation that makes it a visually striking fossil.

These features, combined with excellent preservation, make Peltoceratoides a useful taxon for biostratigraphy, aiding in the subdivision of Oxfordian rock layers.

Paleoecological Significance

As an active nektonic predator, Peltoceratoides lived in the open waters of Jurassic seas, using its chambered shell to regulate buoyancy and maintain mobility. Its diet likely included small crustaceans, mollusks, and juvenile fish. The shell’s ribbed and tubercled morphology may have been an evolutionary adaptation for hydrodynamic stability, enabling efficient movement through the water column.

Ammonites such as Peltoceratoides are of great scientific importance, not only as key index fossils used to date Jurassic strata, but also as indicators of paleoenvironmental conditions. Their distribution in Woodham highlights the rich biodiversity that thrived in these shallow marine habitats.

Collector and Display Value

This rare ammonite fossil combines both scientific value and aesthetic appeal, making it ideal for collectors, educators, and enthusiasts. Its striking spiral form and pronounced ribbing make it an impressive display piece, suitable for natural history collections, study material, or as a statement piece of geological heritage.

Owning a Peltoceratoides ammonite fossil connects you directly with the Jurassic seas of 160 million years ago, where marine reptiles, bivalves, echinoids, and other ammonites lived alongside this extraordinary cephalopod.

Key Details

• Fossil Type: Ammonite
• Genus: Peltoceratoides
• Age: Middle Oxfordian, Jurassic (c. 160 million years old)
• Origin: Woodham, United Kingdom
• Distinctive ribbing and whorl ornamentation
• Supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity
• Photographed with 1 cm scale cube for accurate sizing

This rare Peltoceratoides ammonite fossil from the Oxfordian deposits of Woodham is a unique opportunity to own a scientifically significant and visually stunning piece of Jurassic history.