RARE Fossil Ammonite Ceratites sublaevigatus – Muschelkalk Formation, Middle Triassic – Würzburg, Germany – Alice Purnell Collection

Description

RARE MIDDLE TRIASSIC AMMONITE – CERATITES SUBLAEVIGATUS – MUSCHELKALK FORMATION, WÜRZBURG, BAVARIA, GERMANY

This listing offers a highly desirable and scientifically notable fossil ammonite: Ceratites sublaevigatus, collected from the Muschelkalk Formation near Würzburg, in the region of Bavaria, Germany. This ammonite species lived during the Middle Triassic period, around 240 million years ago, during the time of early marine faunal recovery following the greatest extinction event in Earth’s history.

The specimen comes from the renowned Alice Purnell Collection, known for its high-quality and accurately labelled palaeontological specimens.

This listing includes a clear image of the actual fossil you will receive. The scale cube shown is 1 cm, allowing for precise visual sizing. Please see the photo for full dimensions.

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

FOSSIL DETAILS:

• Species: Ceratites sublaevigatus
• Type: Ceratitid ammonite
• Family: Ceratitidae
• Superfamily: Ceratitaceae
• Order: Ceratitida
• Class: Cephalopoda
• Phylum: Mollusca
• Geological Stage: Anisian to Ladinian
• Period: Middle Triassic (approx. 242–237 million years ago)
• Formation: Muschelkalk Formation
• Locality: Würzburg, Bavaria, Germany
• Collection: Alice Purnell Collection

GEOLOGY & PALAEONTOLOGY:

The Muschelkalk Formation is part of the classic Germanic Triassic sequence, comprising a succession of shallow marine carbonate deposits across Central Europe. These limestones and marls are rich in marine invertebrate fossils and represent a phase of biotic recovery after the Permian-Triassic mass extinction.

• Depositional Environment: Warm, shallow epicontinental sea; low-energy carbonate platform
• Biozone: Typically associated with the Ceratites nodosus zone, part of a well-documented ammonite biostratigraphic framework
• Notable Features: The Muschelkalk ammonite faunas are key to understanding post-extinction ammonoid evolution and palaeobiogeography in Europe.

MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES:

• Shell is discoidal and evolute, with whorls not strongly embracing, giving it an open-coiled appearance
• Ornamentation is relatively smooth, especially for the “sublaevigatus” variety, with minimal ribbing and nodes
• Sutures are ceratitic, showing rounded saddles and notched lobes—classic of Triassic ammonoids
• Size and preservation make this piece ideal for both collectors and educational display

COLLECTOR’S NOTES:

• This is a rare and highly collectible ammonite species from a classic European fossil locality
• Specimen comes from the Alice Purnell Collection, with known provenance and a Certificate of Authenticity
• Perfect for collectors of ammonites, Triassic fossils, or German palaeontology

SUMMARY:

• Species: Ceratites sublaevigatus
• Age: Middle Triassic (Anisian–Ladinian)
• Formation: Muschelkalk
• Location: Würzburg, Bavaria, Germany
• Group: Ceratitid ammonites
• Collection: Alice Purnell
• 100% genuine fossil
• Certificate of Authenticity included
• Exact specimen shown in photo
• 1 cm cube for size scale

This is a unique opportunity to acquire a rare and authentic ammonite from Germany’s Triassic seas, beautifully preserved and backed by documented provenance.