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Phylloceras calypso Ammonite Fossil Valanginian Cretaceous Isere France Genuine COA

Phylloceras calypso Ammonite Fossil Valanginian Cretaceous Isere France Genuine COA

£9.00

Rare Phylloceras calypso Ammonite Fossil from Isère, France

This exceptional specimen is a Phylloceras calypso ammonite fossil from the Valanginian stage of the Lower Cretaceous, discovered in the renowned fossiliferous deposits of Isère, France. Dated to approximately 139–133 million years ago, this ammonite is a highly desirable collector’s item, representing one of the most elegant and scientifically significant genera of the Cretaceous seas. The exact fossil in the photographs is the one you will receive, shown alongside a 1 cm scale cube for accurate measurement. Every specimen is supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity, guaranteeing that it is a 100% genuine fossil.

Geological Context – Valanginian Stage of the Cretaceous

The Valanginian stage marks an important division within the Lower Cretaceous, a time when Europe was covered by shallow marine environments connected to the wider Tethys Ocean. The marine basins of southeastern France, including the region of Isère, are particularly rich in ammonites, which serve as biostratigraphic markers for this period.

These deposits are composed primarily of marls and limestones, laid down in calm, warm seas. Such environments were ideal for the preservation of cephalopods like ammonites, whose mineralised shells became encased in fine sediments. Today, these fossiliferous beds are of major importance for stratigraphy, paleontology, and geology across the Cretaceous record.

Scientific Classification

  • Genus: Phylloceras
  • Species: Phylloceras calypso
  • Family: Phylloceratidae
  • Superfamily: Phyllocerataceae
  • Order: Ammonitida
  • Geological Stage: Valanginian, Lower Cretaceous (c. 139–133 million years ago)
  • Locality: Isère, France

Morphology and Distinctive Features

Ammonites of the genus Phylloceras are renowned for their smooth, elegant shells and distinctive suture lines. The Phylloceras calypso shows the following key characteristics:

  • Involute shell coiling, with a narrow umbilicus and outer whorls that conceal most of the earlier coils.
  • A smooth, glossy appearance, with faint growth lines rather than strong ribbing.
  • Complex and highly ornamental phylloid sutures, which give the genus its name and highlight the evolutionary sophistication of these cephalopods.
  • A shell form optimised for efficient movement through the water, reflecting its active nektonic lifestyle in the open sea.

These features make Phylloceras ammonites not only scientifically valuable but also visually striking, with a graceful simplicity that contrasts with the ribbed or tubercled shells of other Cretaceous ammonites.

Paleontological Importance

The genus Phylloceras is especially important in ammonite research because of its long evolutionary lineage and its role in defining key biozones of the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. Phylloceras calypso, restricted to the Lower Cretaceous, provides vital correlation points for Valanginian strata across Europe and beyond.

Phylloceratids are also considered ancestral to many later ammonite lineages, making them central to understanding cephalopod evolution. Their wide distribution across the ancient Tethyan seaways illustrates the extensive marine connections that characterised this time in Earth’s history.

Ancient Marine Ecosystem and Lifestyle

As an ammonite, Phylloceras calypso belonged to a group of highly successful marine molluscs closely related to squid and cuttlefish. These animals were active predators, using tentacles to capture small prey such as crustaceans and planktonic organisms. The shell provided buoyancy control, allowing the ammonite to move freely through the water column.

The seas of the Valanginian period were rich in life, including belemnites, bivalves, corals, echinoids, and marine reptiles. Phylloceras ammonites thrived in this dynamic ecosystem, leaving behind fossil shells that today serve as enduring records of their once-thriving populations.

Collector and Display Value

A Phylloceras calypso ammonite fossil from Isère is an outstanding addition to any fossil collection. Its rarity, aesthetic elegance, and scientific importance make it highly sought after by collectors, educators, and enthusiasts alike. The smooth shell and intricate sutures create a striking visual contrast, ideal for display in both private and educational settings.

This fossil is not just a relic of Earth’s deep history—it is a piece of natural art formed over 130 million years ago, a tangible connection to the ancient oceans of the Cretaceous world.

Key Details

  • Fossil Type: Ammonite
  • Species: Phylloceras calypso
  • Age: Valanginian Stage, Lower Cretaceous (c. 139–133 million years old)
  • Locality: Isère, France
  • Supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity
  • Exact specimen shown in photographs with 1 cm scale cube

This remarkable Phylloceras calypso ammonite fossil offers the perfect combination of rarity, scientific relevance, and natural beauty, making it a truly exceptional specimen for any serious fossil collection.

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Description

Rare Phylloceras calypso Ammonite Fossil from Isère, France

This exceptional specimen is a Phylloceras calypso ammonite fossil from the Valanginian stage of the Lower Cretaceous, discovered in the renowned fossiliferous deposits of Isère, France. Dated to approximately 139–133 million years ago, this ammonite is a highly desirable collector’s item, representing one of the most elegant and scientifically significant genera of the Cretaceous seas. The exact fossil in the photographs is the one you will receive, shown alongside a 1 cm scale cube for accurate measurement. Every specimen is supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity, guaranteeing that it is a 100% genuine fossil.

Geological Context – Valanginian Stage of the Cretaceous

The Valanginian stage marks an important division within the Lower Cretaceous, a time when Europe was covered by shallow marine environments connected to the wider Tethys Ocean. The marine basins of southeastern France, including the region of Isère, are particularly rich in ammonites, which serve as biostratigraphic markers for this period.

These deposits are composed primarily of marls and limestones, laid down in calm, warm seas. Such environments were ideal for the preservation of cephalopods like ammonites, whose mineralised shells became encased in fine sediments. Today, these fossiliferous beds are of major importance for stratigraphy, paleontology, and geology across the Cretaceous record.

Scientific Classification

  • Genus: Phylloceras
  • Species: Phylloceras calypso
  • Family: Phylloceratidae
  • Superfamily: Phyllocerataceae
  • Order: Ammonitida
  • Geological Stage: Valanginian, Lower Cretaceous (c. 139–133 million years ago)
  • Locality: Isère, France

Morphology and Distinctive Features

Ammonites of the genus Phylloceras are renowned for their smooth, elegant shells and distinctive suture lines. The Phylloceras calypso shows the following key characteristics:

  • Involute shell coiling, with a narrow umbilicus and outer whorls that conceal most of the earlier coils.
  • A smooth, glossy appearance, with faint growth lines rather than strong ribbing.
  • Complex and highly ornamental phylloid sutures, which give the genus its name and highlight the evolutionary sophistication of these cephalopods.
  • A shell form optimised for efficient movement through the water, reflecting its active nektonic lifestyle in the open sea.

These features make Phylloceras ammonites not only scientifically valuable but also visually striking, with a graceful simplicity that contrasts with the ribbed or tubercled shells of other Cretaceous ammonites.

Paleontological Importance

The genus Phylloceras is especially important in ammonite research because of its long evolutionary lineage and its role in defining key biozones of the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. Phylloceras calypso, restricted to the Lower Cretaceous, provides vital correlation points for Valanginian strata across Europe and beyond.

Phylloceratids are also considered ancestral to many later ammonite lineages, making them central to understanding cephalopod evolution. Their wide distribution across the ancient Tethyan seaways illustrates the extensive marine connections that characterised this time in Earth’s history.

Ancient Marine Ecosystem and Lifestyle

As an ammonite, Phylloceras calypso belonged to a group of highly successful marine molluscs closely related to squid and cuttlefish. These animals were active predators, using tentacles to capture small prey such as crustaceans and planktonic organisms. The shell provided buoyancy control, allowing the ammonite to move freely through the water column.

The seas of the Valanginian period were rich in life, including belemnites, bivalves, corals, echinoids, and marine reptiles. Phylloceras ammonites thrived in this dynamic ecosystem, leaving behind fossil shells that today serve as enduring records of their once-thriving populations.

Collector and Display Value

A Phylloceras calypso ammonite fossil from Isère is an outstanding addition to any fossil collection. Its rarity, aesthetic elegance, and scientific importance make it highly sought after by collectors, educators, and enthusiasts alike. The smooth shell and intricate sutures create a striking visual contrast, ideal for display in both private and educational settings.

This fossil is not just a relic of Earth’s deep history—it is a piece of natural art formed over 130 million years ago, a tangible connection to the ancient oceans of the Cretaceous world.

Key Details

  • Fossil Type: Ammonite
  • Species: Phylloceras calypso
  • Age: Valanginian Stage, Lower Cretaceous (c. 139–133 million years old)
  • Locality: Isère, France
  • Supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity
  • Exact specimen shown in photographs with 1 cm scale cube

This remarkable Phylloceras calypso ammonite fossil offers the perfect combination of rarity, scientific relevance, and natural beauty, making it a truly exceptional specimen for any serious fossil collection.

Additional information

Era

Cretaceous
Origin

France

Cretaceous Information

The Cretaceous Period (145–66 million years ago) was the final era of the Mesozoic, marked by the dominance of dinosaurs and the rise of flowering plants. It had a warm, greenhouse climate, with high sea levels that created vast shallow inland seas. Marine life flourished, including mosasaurs, ammonites, and rudist reefs, while the land was ruled by iconic dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, and Spinosaurus. Mammals and birds diversified, and insects thrived. The period ended with the mass extinction event, likely caused by an asteroid impact, wiping out the dinosaurs and paving the way for the rise of mammals in the Cenozoic.

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