Rare ACRIOCERAS Heteromorph Ammonite – Lower Hauterivian Cretaceous, Taoez Morocco

Description

Offered here is a rare and beautifully preserved heteromorph ammonite fossil from the genus ACRIOCERAS, dating to the Lower Hauterivian Stage of the Early Cretaceous Period. This specimen originates from Taoez, Morocco, a region known for yielding some of the finest and most diverse marine invertebrate fossils in North Africa.

Taxonomic Classification:

• Order: Ammonitida
• Superfamily: Ancyloceratoidea
• Family: Acrioceratidae
• Genus: Acrioceras

Geological Context:

• Period: Cretaceous
• Stage: Lower Hauterivian (approx. 132–130 million years ago)
• Depositional Environment: Shallow marine to outer shelf environment. Calm, low-energy conditions with fine carbonate sedimentation allowed excellent fossil preservation. These ammonites lived in open water, likely exhibiting slow, buoyant swimming behavior due to their non-spiral shell structure.

Morphological Features:

• Heteromorph ammonite with a distinctive helicoidal to hook-shaped coiling
• Prominent ribbing and tubercles across the shell, giving it a rugged appearance
• Irregular coiling pattern compared to the typical planispiral forms, possibly aiding in buoyancy or reducing predation

Scientific Importance:

• Acrioceras species are key markers for Hauterivian biostratigraphy and help define ammonite zones within the Lower Cretaceous
• Their complex shell morphology makes them important for understanding evolutionary experimentation within ammonites during this period
• This genus was originally described by early European palaeontologists working on Lower Cretaceous sequences

Locality Information:

• Taoez, Morocco – a productive Cretaceous fossil site in the Atlas region, with excellent exposure of marine sedimentary rocks that yield ammonites, bivalves, gastropods, and more

Authenticity & Presentation:

All of our fossils are 100% Genuine Specimens and come with a Certificate of Authenticity. The listing includes actual photographs of the precise specimen you will receive. The scale rule cube = 1cm and full dimensions are visible in the provided photo.

This is a carefully selected example of Acrioceras, offering both visual appeal and scientific interest. Perfect for fossil collectors, palaeontologists, educators, or natural history enthusiasts seeking rare ammonite forms.

Add a distinctive and ancient relic of the Early Cretaceous seas to your collection today!