Description
This listing is for a stunning polished fossil gastropod slab featuring Viviparus and Ptychostylus harpaeformis, two prominent freshwater gastropod species from the Lower Cretaceous Durlston Formation, discovered near Swanage, Dorset, UK. The slab has been carefully cut and polished to reveal exquisite fossil detail, and it represents a real snapshot of life in an ancient fluvial-lacustrine environment.
- Species: Viviparus sp. and Ptychostylus harpaeformis
- Formation: Durlston Formation (Purbeck Group)
- Age: Early Cretaceous (~145–140 million years ago)
- Location: Swanage, Dorset, United Kingdom
- Discovered by: Our own team members Alister and Alison
- Date of Discovery: 22 March 2025
- Prepared by: Cleaned, treated, and polished by Alison
- Certification: Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity
- Scale Reference: 1cm cube shown for accurate sizing in the photo
- Photo Accuracy: You will receive the exact specimen shown in the images
Scientific & Geological Notes:
- Geological Stage: Berriasian Stage, Early Cretaceous
- Formation & Depositional Environment: The Durlston Formation is part of the Purbeck Group, deposited in a marginal marine to freshwater environment (lagoonal, deltaic, and lacustrine settings). It preserves diverse molluscan fauna adapted to brackish and freshwater systems.
- Biozone (General): Berriasella jacobi ammonite zone
- Morphological Features:
- Viviparus: Broad, turreted spiral shells common in freshwater settings
- Ptychostylus harpaeformis: Noted for its distinctive ribbed shell, sometimes mistaken for marine species due to its ornate structure
- Notable Identification: Ptychostylus harpaeformis has been formally described and studied in classic Purbeck fossil literature, including works by the 19th-century geologists such as Richard Owen and Edward Forbes
Why This Fossil Slab is Special:
This fossil slab is not only scientifically valuable but also visually striking due to the high polish which brings out the preservation detail. The co-occurrence of two named gastropod species provides a multi-species glimpse into freshwater faunal assemblages of the Early Cretaceous. The specimen serves equally well for display, academic reference, or as a high-quality addition to any fossil collection.
Summary Highlights:
- Genuine fossil from a scientifically important UK site
- Beautifully polished surface highlights shell structures
- Historically studied species from the Purbeck facies
- Comes with Certificate of Authenticity
- Ideal for collectors, educational use, or interior display
Note:
All of our Fossils are 100% Genuine Specimens & come with a Certificate of Authenticity.
Scale cube = 1cm. Please refer to the photo for full sizing and details.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.