RARE Calycoceras naviculare Fossil Ammonite – Upper Cenomanian Cretaceous – Whitecliff Bay Isle of Wight UK – Alice Purnell Collection

Description

Offered for sale is a RARE and well-preserved specimen of the ammonite Calycoceras naviculare, originating from the Upper Cenomanian Stage of the Late Cretaceous Period, approximately 94 million years ago. This fossil was collected from Whitecliff Bay, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom — a classic fossil locality renowned for its Cretaceous marine faunas and exceptional preservation.

This authentic fossil comes from the Alice Purnell Collection, a well-regarded compilation of British fossils known for its quality and scientific value. The photo displays the actual specimen you will receive, and it is supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity confirming its identity and provenance.

Scale Rule Squares / Cube = 1cm: Please see photo for full sizing and measurement.

Geological & Palaeontological Details:

• Species: Calycoceras naviculare
• Geological Period: Late Cretaceous
• Stage: Upper Cenomanian
• Formation: Chalk Group
• Location: Whitecliff Bay, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom
• Depositional Environment: Open marine, warm epicontinental sea – chalky and marl-rich sediments indicating a low-energy, deeper water habitat
• Biozone: Typically associated with the Calycoceras naviculare Zone in Cenomanian zonation schemes
• Fossil Type: Extinct marine ammonite – fast-swimming cephalopod

Morphological Features:

• Strongly ribbed, ornamented shell with pronounced tubercles
• Broad umbilicus with relatively involute coiling
• Shell cross-section is compressed with conspicuous lateral and ventrolateral nodes
• Well-preserved growth lines and suture patterns indicative of genus
• The specimen may display partial phragmocone and/or body chamber depending on preservation

Taxonomic Classification:

• Family: Acanthoceratidae
• Superfamily: Acanthoceratoidea
• Order: Ammonitida
• Class: Cephalopoda
• Phylum: Mollusca

Notable Points:

• Calycoceras naviculare is a key zonal ammonite used for biostratigraphy of the Upper Cenomanian
• Specimens from the Isle of Wight are increasingly rare and highly collectable
• A representative example of ammonite evolution during a major transgressive marine phase in the Cretaceous
• Excellent addition for collectors of British Cretaceous fossils or for educational display

Summary:

This rare Calycoceras naviculare ammonite fossil is a window into the Upper Cretaceous marine ecosystems that once covered southern Britain. Scientifically significant and aesthetically impressive, this genuine fossil from the Alice Purnell Collection is ideal for collectors, educators, and anyone passionate about Earth’s prehistoric past.

Important Notes:

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

The specimen pictured is the exact one you will receive.

Scale cubes = 1cm. Please refer to the image for full sizing.