Rare Fossil Ammonite Otoites sauzei – Inferior Oolite, Jurassic Coast – Burton Bradstock, Dorset, UK – Authentic Specimen

Description

Authentic Otoites sauzei Fossil Ammonite – Inferior Oolite Formation – Middle Jurassic – Burton Bradstock, Dorset, UK

This is a genuine and scientifically significant ammonite fossil specimen of Otoites sauzei, discovered on the iconic Jurassic Coast at Burton Bradstock, Dorset. The fossil is beautifully preserved within the Inferior Oolite Formation, a Middle Jurassic limestone sequence celebrated for yielding finely detailed ammonites.

Fossil & Geological Information:

• Species: Otoites sauzei
• Family: Otoitidae
• Superfamily: Stephanoceratoidea
• Order: Ammonitida
• Geological Stage: Bajocian Stage (Middle Jurassic, ~170–168 million years ago)
• Formation: Inferior Oolite
• Location: Burton Bradstock, Dorset, UK – part of the UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coast
• Zone: Sauzei Subzone (named after this very species), within the Laeviuscula Zone
• Biozone: Upper Bajocian ammonite zones – key for international biostratigraphic correlation
• Depositional Environment: Warm, shallow marine platform with well-oxygenated conditions—ideal for calcareous sediment accumulation and excellent fossil preservation
• Morphology Features:
• Strongly ribbed, compressed shell
• Evolute form with visible inner whorls
• Typical ornamentation includes bold ribs and tuberculate features along the flanks
• Considered diagnostic of the Bajocian ammonite fauna
• Notable: Otoites sauzei is an index fossil for the Bajocian Stage, making it a scientifically valuable specimen for collectors and educational purposes
• Formal Identification: Originally described and classified by d’Orbigny in the 19th century

Specimen Details:

• Discovered by: Alister and Alison of UKGE
• Date of Discovery: 17 January 2025
• Preparation: Cleaned, prepped, and stabilised by Alison
• Scale Reference: Cube in photo = 1cm (see image for full size and details)
• Authenticity: Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity – 100% guaranteed genuine fossil
• Photograph: The listing image shows the exact specimen you will receive

About the Inferior Oolite Formation:

The Inferior Oolite is a marine limestone unit known for abundant, diverse fossil content, including ammonites, echinoids, bivalves, and gastropods. The sedimentary environment was dominated by carbonate deposition on a shallow shelf, making it a fossil-rich window into the Middle Jurassic seas.

This Otoites sauzei ammonite is not just a collector’s piece but also an important biostratigraphic and palaeontological specimen, perfect for display, education, or as part of a scientifically curated collection.