RARE Labeceras (Labeceras) bryani Heteromorph Fossil Ammonite – Upper Albian, Cretaceous – Australia – Alice Purnell Collection

Description

This listing features a rare and scientifically notable heteromorph ammonite fossil, Labeceras (Labeceras) bryani, from the Upper Albian Stage of the Cretaceous Period, collected from the Walsh River region, Queensland, Australia. Heteromorph ammonites like this one are especially prized for their non-spiral coiling and unusual morphology. This fossil is part of the well-curated Alice Purnell Collection and the photo displays the exact piece you will receive.

Geological Context:

• Species: Labeceras (Labeceras) bryani
• Geological Period: Cretaceous
• Stage: Upper Albian (~105–100.5 million years ago)
• Location: Walsh River, Queensland, Australia
• Depositional Environment: Epicontinental marine shelf with carbonate-rich and calcareous silt deposition; warm, shallow waters typical of Cretaceous epeiric seas

Taxonomic Classification:

• Family: Turrilitidae
• Superfamily: Turrilitoidea
• Order: Ammonitida
• Suborder: Ancyloceratina
• Formally Described By: Etheridge, 1904

Morphological Features:

Labeceras (Labeceras) bryani is a heteromorph ammonite, meaning it deviates from the traditional coiled planispiral form. Instead, it exhibits a loosely coiled or helically wound shell. The whorls may form a spiral or open helix, and ornamentation includes fine ribbing and subtle tuberculation depending on growth stage. These complex shell forms are thought to have influenced its life habits, potentially reflecting a more passive, drifting lifestyle in the water column.

Biostratigraphic Significance:

Labeceras bryani appears in the Upper Albian ammonite biozones, contributing to regional stratigraphic correlation in northern Australia. Heteromorph ammonites are useful indicators for marine connections during transgressive events in the mid-Cretaceous and are of notable interest to palaeobiogeographic studies in Gondwanan basins.

Additional Details:

• All of our Fossils are 100% Genuine Specimens & come with a Certificate of Authenticity.
• Scale Rule Squares / Cube = 1cm. Full specimen sizing is visible in the photo.
• This specimen is from the highly respected Alice Purnell Collection.

This is a beautifully preserved and rare example of a Cretaceous heteromorph ammonite from Australia, offering both scientific and aesthetic appeal. Ideal for collectors, educators, and enthusiasts of Cretaceous marine life.

Own a true piece of Earth’s deep-time legacy.