Description
This listing features a rare and genuine fossil of Hamites armatus, a heteromorph (uncoiled) ammonite species from the Cenomanian stage of the Late Cretaceous period. The specimen was collected from the Lower Chalk formations near Glynde, East Sussex, United Kingdom, an area known for exceptional fossil preservation within the Southern England chalk belt.
Geological Context:
- Fossil Type: Heteromorph Ammonite (uncoiled/extending shell geometry)
- Species: Hamites armatus (Sowerby, 1814)
- Order: Ammonitida
- Superfamily: Turrilitoidea
- Family: Hamitidae
- Geological Stage: Cenomanian (c. 100.5 to 93.9 million years ago)
- Formation: Lower Chalk
- Depositional Environment: Open marine carbonate platform with pelagic influence
Heteromorph ammonites like Hamites armatus are distinguished by their irregular, loosely coiled or uncoiled shells, which differ from the classic planispiral forms of most ammonites. These unusual forms evolved in multiple ammonite lineages and are often associated with changing marine conditions during the mid-Cretaceous.
Morphology & Notable Features:
- Uncoiled or loosely coiled shell with hook-like curvature
- Fine ribbing across the shell surface with occasional tubercles
- Thin-walled shell structure, often laterally compressed
- Rare and visually striking fossil form compared to typical ammonites
Stratigraphic/Biozone Note: Hamites armatus appears in Lower to Middle Cenomanian chalks and marls, frequently used as a biostratigraphic marker for the early part of the Cenomanian.
Specimen Details:
- Origin: Glynde, East Sussex, United Kingdom
- Age: Cenomanian Stage, Late Cretaceous (~95 million years old)
- Scale: Scale rule square/cube = 1cm. Refer to photographs for exact sizing
- Condition: Carefully chosen for its clarity, detail, and completeness
- Photo: The specimen you see is the actual fossil you will receive
Certification & Authenticity: All of our fossils are 100% genuine specimens and come with a Certificate of Authenticity. We hand-select each piece based on scientific and aesthetic quality, ensuring museum-grade standards.
A remarkable collector’s piece, this rare Hamites armatus heteromorph ammonite represents a unique moment in evolutionary history, capturing the diversity and adaptability of marine life in the ancient Cretaceous seas of Britain.
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