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RARE 4" Hoplites benettianus Fossil Ammonite | Lower Albian Cretaceous | Small Dole Sussex UK | Certified Authentic Specimen
RARE 4" Hoplites benettianus Fossil Ammonite | Lower Albian Cretaceous | Small Dole Sussex UK | Certified Authentic Specimen - Image 2

RARE 4″ Hoplites benettianus Fossil Ammonite | Lower Albian Cretaceous | Small Dole Sussex UK | Certified Authentic Specimen

£36.00

Presenting a rare 4-inch Hoplites benettianus Fossil Ammonite, a scientifically significant and visually striking specimen from the Lower Albian Stage of the Early Cretaceous, collected at Small Dole, West Sussex, United Kingdom.

This ammonite showcases classic features of the genus Hoplites, including strong ribbing and defined ventrolateral tubercles. Its detailed preservation and well-defined morphology make it ideal for collectors, display, or scientific study.

All of our Fossils are 100% Genuine Specimens & come with a Certificate of Authenticity.

The photo displays the exact specimen you will receive, shown alongside a 1cm scale cube/grid for accurate size reference. Please see image for full sizing.

 

Geological and Taxonomic Information:

  • Species: Hoplites benettianus
  • Fossil Type: Ammonite (extinct marine cephalopod)
  • Age: Early Cretaceous, Lower Albian Stage (~113 to 110 million years ago)
  • Formation: Gault Clay Formation
  • Locality: Small Dole, West Sussex, England, United Kingdom
  • Depositional Environment: Deep marine, offshore shelf muds in a low-energy environment
  • Biozone: Likely within the Hoplites dentatus Zone
  • Geological Stage: Albian (Early Cretaceous)

 

Taxonomic Classification:

  • Order: Ammonitida
  • Superfamily: Hoplitoidea
  • Family: Hoplitidae
  • Genus: Hoplites
  • Species: Hoplites benettianus
  • First Described By: Spath, 1923

 

Morphology & Notable Features:

  • Robust, involute shell with narrow umbilicus
  • Prominent ribs, generally bifurcating from the umbilical edge
  • Distinct ventrolateral tubercles
  • Slightly compressed flanks with a flat venter
  • Complex ammonitic suture lines
  • H. benettianus is noted for its broader whorls and stronger ornamentation compared to other Hoplites species

 

Scientific & Collector Significance:

Hoplites benettianus serves as an important biostratigraphic marker for the Lower Albian and is frequently referenced in zonal ammonite succession for this time interval. It is part of the richly fossiliferous Gault Clay marine sequence. Well-preserved matrix-free specimens like this are seldom available from this classic British locality.

This fossil offers a captivating insight into the marine ecosystems of the Early Cretaceous and would be a prized addition to any collection focusing on ammonites, Cretaceous fauna, or UK geology.

 

Specimen Details:

  • Approximate Size: 4 inches (100 mm)
  • Matrix-free display specimen
  • From a classic UK locality, no longer broadly accessible for legal collection
  • Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity

 

Ideal For:

  • Amateur and professional fossil collectors
  • Educational and research collections
  • Natural history display
  • Unique geological gifts

 

(Actual as seen)

Only 1 left in stock

SKU: UF4389 Category:

Description

Presenting a rare 4-inch Hoplites benettianus Fossil Ammonite, a scientifically significant and visually striking specimen from the Lower Albian Stage of the Early Cretaceous, collected at Small Dole, West Sussex, United Kingdom.

This ammonite showcases classic features of the genus Hoplites, including strong ribbing and defined ventrolateral tubercles. Its detailed preservation and well-defined morphology make it ideal for collectors, display, or scientific study.

All of our Fossils are 100% Genuine Specimens & come with a Certificate of Authenticity.

The photo displays the exact specimen you will receive, shown alongside a 1cm scale cube/grid for accurate size reference. Please see image for full sizing.

 

Geological and Taxonomic Information:

  • Species: Hoplites benettianus
  • Fossil Type: Ammonite (extinct marine cephalopod)
  • Age: Early Cretaceous, Lower Albian Stage (~113 to 110 million years ago)
  • Formation: Gault Clay Formation
  • Locality: Small Dole, West Sussex, England, United Kingdom
  • Depositional Environment: Deep marine, offshore shelf muds in a low-energy environment
  • Biozone: Likely within the Hoplites dentatus Zone
  • Geological Stage: Albian (Early Cretaceous)

 

Taxonomic Classification:

  • Order: Ammonitida
  • Superfamily: Hoplitoidea
  • Family: Hoplitidae
  • Genus: Hoplites
  • Species: Hoplites benettianus
  • First Described By: Spath, 1923

 

Morphology & Notable Features:

  • Robust, involute shell with narrow umbilicus
  • Prominent ribs, generally bifurcating from the umbilical edge
  • Distinct ventrolateral tubercles
  • Slightly compressed flanks with a flat venter
  • Complex ammonitic suture lines
  • H. benettianus is noted for its broader whorls and stronger ornamentation compared to other Hoplites species

 

Scientific & Collector Significance:

Hoplites benettianus serves as an important biostratigraphic marker for the Lower Albian and is frequently referenced in zonal ammonite succession for this time interval. It is part of the richly fossiliferous Gault Clay marine sequence. Well-preserved matrix-free specimens like this are seldom available from this classic British locality.

This fossil offers a captivating insight into the marine ecosystems of the Early Cretaceous and would be a prized addition to any collection focusing on ammonites, Cretaceous fauna, or UK geology.

 

Specimen Details:

  • Approximate Size: 4 inches (100 mm)
  • Matrix-free display specimen
  • From a classic UK locality, no longer broadly accessible for legal collection
  • Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity

 

Ideal For:

  • Amateur and professional fossil collectors
  • Educational and research collections
  • Natural history display
  • Unique geological gifts

 

Additional information

Era

Cretaceous
Origin

United Kingdom

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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