Fossils for Sale - High-quality BRITISH and WORLDWIDE Fossils. An impressive selection of fossils, including Ammonites, Trilobites, Belemnites, Fossil Fish, Fossil Shark Teeth, Fossilised Insects in Amber, Dinosaurs, and Reptiles. UK Fossils was formed in 1988 and collects and preps our own fossils in the heart of the Jurassic Coast, collecting fossils from Lyme Regis, Charmouth and Somerset. Our passion for fossils is reflected in our carefully curated collection, which includes some of the rarest and most unique specimens available.

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RARE 9.5" Hammatoceras speciosum Fossil Ammonite - Upper Toarcian, Jurassic - Ligron, Thouars, France | Genuine | COA
RARE 9.5" Hammatoceras speciosum Fossil Ammonite - Upper Toarcian, Jurassic - Ligron, Thouars, France | Genuine | COA - Image 2

RARE 9.5″ Hammatoceras speciosum Fossil Ammonite – Upper Toarcian, Jurassic – Ligron, Thouars, France | Genuine | COA

£240.00

This listing features a RARE and exceptional 9.5-inch Fossil Ammonite – Hammatoceras speciosum from the Upper Toarcian Stage of the Early Jurassic, collected at the classic fossil site of Ligron, near Thouars, France. With its beautifully detailed ribbing and coiling, this ammonite is both scientifically significant and visually striking — a centrepiece for any serious collector or display.

All of our fossils are 100% genuine specimens and come with a Certificate of Authenticity. The exact specimen pictured is the one you will receive. Please refer to the image with the scale cube (1cm squares) for full dimensions.

Fossil Overview:

  • Species: Hammatoceras speciosum (Sowerby, 1815)
  • Common Name: Fossil Ammonite
  • Geological Period: Jurassic
  • Stage: Upper Toarcian (~180 – 174 million years ago)
  • Zone: Hammatoceras speciosum Biozone
  • Location: Ligron, Thouars, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
  • Size: Approx. 9.5 inches (24 cm) in diameter
  • Preservation: Excellent detail in iron-rich marlstone matrix

Geological & Depositional Environment:

This fossil was preserved in the marine clays and iron-rich marls of the Upper Toarcian, a subdivision of the Early Jurassic known for rapid ammonite evolution and exceptional fossil preservation. The Ligron region, near Thouars, is one of the premier Toarcian fossil localities in Europe.

These sediments were laid down in a relatively deep marine shelf environment, under low-oxygen conditions that allowed fine preservation of marine life including ammonites, belemnites, fish, and marine reptiles. The Hammatoceras speciosum biozone is a key biostratigraphic marker used to correlate Toarcian sequences across Europe.

Taxonomy & Classification:

  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Mollusca
  • Class: Cephalopoda
  • Order: Ammonitida
  • Superfamily: Hammatoceratoidea
  • Family: Hammatoceratidae
  • Genus: Hammatoceras
  • Species: H. speciosum
  • Formally Described By: James Sowerby, 1815

Morphological Features:

Hammatoceras speciosum is noted for:

  • Strongly involute shell with high whorl expansion
  • Prominent radial ribbing, often bifurcating mid-flank
  • Shallow but broad umbilicus
  • Distinct ventrolateral tubercles in some specimens
  • Graceful spiral symmetry and tight coiling

These features indicate an active, nektonic (free-swimming) lifestyle in open marine environments, preying on small invertebrates and using jet propulsion like modern cephalopods.

Notable Points:

  • Classic species from one of the most biostratigraphically significant zones of the Lower Jurassic
  • Rare specimen from Ligron, a renowned fossil site
  • Formally described by James Sowerby in the early 19th century
  • Visually stunning piece for educational display, personal collections, or museum settings

Why Buy From Us?

  • All fossils are 100% authentic — no replicas or restorations
  • Includes a Certificate of Authenticity
  • The exact specimen shown is the one you will receive
  • Packaged with care and shipped promptly

Add this rare and spectacular Hammatoceras speciosum ammonite to your collection — a true relic of the Early Jurassic seas and an iconic representative of European fossil heritage.

(Actual as seen)

Only 1 left in stock

SKU: UF4645 Category:

Description

This listing features a RARE and exceptional 9.5-inch Fossil Ammonite – Hammatoceras speciosum from the Upper Toarcian Stage of the Early Jurassic, collected at the classic fossil site of Ligron, near Thouars, France. With its beautifully detailed ribbing and coiling, this ammonite is both scientifically significant and visually striking — a centrepiece for any serious collector or display.

All of our fossils are 100% genuine specimens and come with a Certificate of Authenticity. The exact specimen pictured is the one you will receive. Please refer to the image with the scale cube (1cm squares) for full dimensions.

Fossil Overview:

  • Species: Hammatoceras speciosum (Sowerby, 1815)
  • Common Name: Fossil Ammonite
  • Geological Period: Jurassic
  • Stage: Upper Toarcian (~180 – 174 million years ago)
  • Zone: Hammatoceras speciosum Biozone
  • Location: Ligron, Thouars, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
  • Size: Approx. 9.5 inches (24 cm) in diameter
  • Preservation: Excellent detail in iron-rich marlstone matrix

Geological & Depositional Environment:

This fossil was preserved in the marine clays and iron-rich marls of the Upper Toarcian, a subdivision of the Early Jurassic known for rapid ammonite evolution and exceptional fossil preservation. The Ligron region, near Thouars, is one of the premier Toarcian fossil localities in Europe.

These sediments were laid down in a relatively deep marine shelf environment, under low-oxygen conditions that allowed fine preservation of marine life including ammonites, belemnites, fish, and marine reptiles. The Hammatoceras speciosum biozone is a key biostratigraphic marker used to correlate Toarcian sequences across Europe.

Taxonomy & Classification:

  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Mollusca
  • Class: Cephalopoda
  • Order: Ammonitida
  • Superfamily: Hammatoceratoidea
  • Family: Hammatoceratidae
  • Genus: Hammatoceras
  • Species: H. speciosum
  • Formally Described By: James Sowerby, 1815

Morphological Features:

Hammatoceras speciosum is noted for:

  • Strongly involute shell with high whorl expansion
  • Prominent radial ribbing, often bifurcating mid-flank
  • Shallow but broad umbilicus
  • Distinct ventrolateral tubercles in some specimens
  • Graceful spiral symmetry and tight coiling

These features indicate an active, nektonic (free-swimming) lifestyle in open marine environments, preying on small invertebrates and using jet propulsion like modern cephalopods.

Notable Points:

  • Classic species from one of the most biostratigraphically significant zones of the Lower Jurassic
  • Rare specimen from Ligron, a renowned fossil site
  • Formally described by James Sowerby in the early 19th century
  • Visually stunning piece for educational display, personal collections, or museum settings

Why Buy From Us?

  • All fossils are 100% authentic — no replicas or restorations
  • Includes a Certificate of Authenticity
  • The exact specimen shown is the one you will receive
  • Packaged with care and shipped promptly

Add this rare and spectacular Hammatoceras speciosum ammonite to your collection — a true relic of the Early Jurassic seas and an iconic representative of European fossil heritage.

Additional information

Era

Jurassic
Origin

France

Jurassic Information

The Jurassic Period (201–145 million years ago) was the golden age of dinosaurs, with iconic species like Brachiosaurus, Stegosaurus, and Allosaurus dominating the land. It was a time of warm, humid climates, with high sea levels that created vast shallow seas, supporting abundant marine reptiles, ammonites, and early coral reefs. The first birds, such as Archaeopteryx, evolved from small theropod dinosaurs, while early mammals remained small and nocturnal. Lush forests of cycads, conifers, and ferns covered the land, providing food for giant herbivores. The breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea accelerated, shaping Earth's geography and setting the stage for the diverse ecosystems of the Cretaceous.

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