Description
Authentic Porpoceras Fossil Ammonite from France
This listing presents a genuine Porpoceras fossil ammonite, discovered in Aveyron, France, from the Toarcian Stage of the Jurassic Period (approximately 182–174 million years ago). This finely preserved specimen captures the unique ribbed and coiled morphology of the Porpoceras genus, a fascinating cephalopod group that thrived in Europe’s Jurassic seas. As with all our fossils, this piece comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, guaranteeing it as a 100% genuine specimen. The photos provided show the exact ammonite you will receive, with a 1 cm cube included for scale reference.
Geological Age and Locality
This ammonite originates from Aveyron, a region in southern France with exposures of fossil-rich Jurassic marine deposits. The Toarcian Stage of the Early Jurassic is renowned for its abundance of ammonites, which serve as important index fossils in biostratigraphy, enabling geologists to date and correlate rock layers across Europe and beyond.
The Toarcian also includes one of the most studied events in Earth’s history, the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event, a period of widespread oxygen depletion in the oceans. This created favourable conditions for the preservation of marine fossils, including ammonites like Porpoceras, ensuring that their shells remained intact for millions of years.
Scientific Classification
- Genus/Species: Porpoceras sp.
- Family: Dactylioceratidae
- Superfamily: Dactylioceratoidea
- Order: Ammonitida
- Class: Cephalopoda
- Geological Stage: Toarcian, Early Jurassic (~182–174 million years ago)
- Locality: Aveyron, France
Morphological Features
Ammonites belonging to the genus Porpoceras are known for their evolute coiling, with whorls that are only slightly overlapping. Their shells are decorated with strong, prominent ribs that typically bifurcate (split into two) as they cross the flanks, lending a striking visual appeal to the fossil. The venter (outer margin) is generally keeled, enhancing its streamlined profile. These structural features provided stability in the water, enabling Porpoceras to move efficiently in search of prey.
The ribbing and coiling of Porpoceras not only make it a distinctive fossil but also one of considerable aesthetic beauty, prized by both professional paleontologists and private collectors alike.
Paleoenvironment and Ecology
During the Early Jurassic, the region that is now southern France was part of a warm, shallow epicontinental sea that stretched across much of Western Europe. This marine environment supported a rich ecosystem of cephalopods, bivalves, fish, and marine reptiles.
Porpoceras ammonites were active predators, using their tentacles to capture smaller marine organisms. Their chambered shells provided buoyancy, allowing them to occupy different depths of the water column. The ribbed shell would have given structural strength, making it more resistant to the pressures of ocean currents.
The preservation of these ammonites in Aveyron reflects the fine-grained marine sediments that accumulated in these shallow seas, providing an excellent record of Jurassic biodiversity.
Collectability and Significance
A Porpoceras ammonite from Aveyron, France is both a scientifically important specimen and a highly collectable fossil. Its distinctive ribbing and coiled form make it an impressive display piece, while its age and origin connect it directly to one of the most dynamic periods of Earth’s geological past.
- Type: Fossil Ammonite – Porpoceras sp.
- Geological Stage: Toarcian, Early Jurassic (~182–174 million years ago)
- Provenance: Aveyron, France
- Scale Reference: 1 cm cube visible in photos
- Authenticity: Guaranteed genuine with Certificate of Authenticity
- Specimen Guarantee: The fossil shown in the photographs is the exact one you will receive
This ammonite fossil offers both natural beauty and scientific insight, making it an exceptional addition to any fossil collection, museum display, or educational resource.
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