Fossils for Sale - High-quality BRITISH and WORLDWIDE Fossils. An impressive selection of fossils, including Ammonites, Trilobites, Belemnites, Fossil Fish, Fossil Shark Teeth, Fossilised Insects in Amber, Dinosaurs, and Reptiles. UK Fossils was formed in 1988 and collects and preps our own fossils in the heart of the Jurassic Coast, collecting fossils from Lyme Regis, Charmouth and Somerset. Our passion for fossils is reflected in our carefully curated collection, which includes some of the rarest and most unique specimens available.

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RARE Metrolytoceras metretum Fossil Ammonite – Sauzei Zone, Inferior Oolite, Middle Bajocian, Jurassic – UK – Alice Purnell Collection
RARE Metrolytoceras metretum Fossil Ammonite – Sauzei Zone, Inferior Oolite, Middle Bajocian, Jurassic – UK – Alice Purnell Collection - Image 2

RARE Metrolytoceras metretum Fossil Ammonite – Sauzei Zone, Inferior Oolite, Middle Bajocian, Jurassic – UK – Alice Purnell Collection

£60.00

An elegant and rare specimen of Metrolytoceras metretum, a smooth, streamlined ammonite from the Sauzei Zone of the Middle Bajocian, found in the Inferior Oolite Formation at Burton Bradstock, Dorset, United Kingdom. This ammonite comes from the reputable Alice Purnell Collection, and the specimen shown in the photo is exactly what you will receive.

Geological Context:

  • Species: Metrolytoceras metretum
  • Geological Period: Jurassic
  • Stage: Middle Bajocian (~170 to 168 million years ago)
  • Biozone: Sauzei Zone
  • Formation: Inferior Oolite
  • Location: Burton Bradstock, Dorset, UK
  • Depositional Environment: Warm, shallow marine platform setting with oolitic limestones and carbonate-rich sediments typical of the Inferior Oolite; highly fossiliferous and indicative of high biodiversity in a stable carbonate shelf

Taxonomic Classification:

  • Family: Lytoceratidae
  • Superfamily: Lytoceratoidea
  • Order: Ammonitida
  • Suborder: Ammonitina
  • Originally Described By: Buckman (early 20th century)

Morphological Features:

Metrolytoceras metretum is characterised by its smooth, highly involute shell and narrow whorl section with a small umbilicus. The shell has almost no ribbing and features a clean, hydrodynamic profile. These features reflect a nektonic (free-swimming) lifestyle in open marine settings, typical of lytoceratids.

This fossil specimen exhibits the textbook characteristics of the species, with excellent preservation of the shell form and curvature.

Stratigraphic and Scientific Importance:

This species is a marker within the Sauzei Zone of the Middle Bajocian, aiding in fine biostratigraphic resolution across southern England and parts of Western Europe. The genus Metrolytoceras is part of the highly distinctive lytoceratid lineage, which played an important evolutionary role in mid-Mesozoic ammonoid faunas, contributing to our understanding of ammonite diversification and paleoecology during the Jurassic.

Additional Details:

  • All of our Fossils are 100% Genuine Specimens & come with a Certificate of Authenticity.
  • Scale Rule Squares / Cube = 1cm. Please refer to the photo for exact sizing.
  • Part of the carefully curated and scientifically recognised Alice Purnell Collection.

This Metrolytoceras metretum ammonite offers a rare opportunity to own a fine example of a lytoceratid from the classic Inferior Oolite of Dorset. Ideal for collectors, educators, or those with a passion for Jurassic marine life.

Add this refined piece of Earth’s palaeontological history to your collection today.

(Actual as seen)

Out of stock

SKU: AF1262 Category:

Description

An elegant and rare specimen of Metrolytoceras metretum, a smooth, streamlined ammonite from the Sauzei Zone of the Middle Bajocian, found in the Inferior Oolite Formation at Burton Bradstock, Dorset, United Kingdom. This ammonite comes from the reputable Alice Purnell Collection, and the specimen shown in the photo is exactly what you will receive.

Geological Context:

  • Species: Metrolytoceras metretum
  • Geological Period: Jurassic
  • Stage: Middle Bajocian (~170 to 168 million years ago)
  • Biozone: Sauzei Zone
  • Formation: Inferior Oolite
  • Location: Burton Bradstock, Dorset, UK
  • Depositional Environment: Warm, shallow marine platform setting with oolitic limestones and carbonate-rich sediments typical of the Inferior Oolite; highly fossiliferous and indicative of high biodiversity in a stable carbonate shelf

Taxonomic Classification:

  • Family: Lytoceratidae
  • Superfamily: Lytoceratoidea
  • Order: Ammonitida
  • Suborder: Ammonitina
  • Originally Described By: Buckman (early 20th century)

Morphological Features:

Metrolytoceras metretum is characterised by its smooth, highly involute shell and narrow whorl section with a small umbilicus. The shell has almost no ribbing and features a clean, hydrodynamic profile. These features reflect a nektonic (free-swimming) lifestyle in open marine settings, typical of lytoceratids.

This fossil specimen exhibits the textbook characteristics of the species, with excellent preservation of the shell form and curvature.

Stratigraphic and Scientific Importance:

This species is a marker within the Sauzei Zone of the Middle Bajocian, aiding in fine biostratigraphic resolution across southern England and parts of Western Europe. The genus Metrolytoceras is part of the highly distinctive lytoceratid lineage, which played an important evolutionary role in mid-Mesozoic ammonoid faunas, contributing to our understanding of ammonite diversification and paleoecology during the Jurassic.

Additional Details:

  • All of our Fossils are 100% Genuine Specimens & come with a Certificate of Authenticity.
  • Scale Rule Squares / Cube = 1cm. Please refer to the photo for exact sizing.
  • Part of the carefully curated and scientifically recognised Alice Purnell Collection.

This Metrolytoceras metretum ammonite offers a rare opportunity to own a fine example of a lytoceratid from the classic Inferior Oolite of Dorset. Ideal for collectors, educators, or those with a passion for Jurassic marine life.

Add this refined piece of Earth’s palaeontological history to your collection today.

Additional information

Era

Jurassic
Origin

United Kingdom

Jurassic Information

The Jurassic Period (201–145 million years ago) was the golden age of dinosaurs, with iconic species like Brachiosaurus, Stegosaurus, and Allosaurus dominating the land. It was a time of warm, humid climates, with high sea levels that created vast shallow seas, supporting abundant marine reptiles, ammonites, and early coral reefs. The first birds, such as Archaeopteryx, evolved from small theropod dinosaurs, while early mammals remained small and nocturnal. Lush forests of cycads, conifers, and ferns covered the land, providing food for giant herbivores. The breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea accelerated, shaping Earth's geography and setting the stage for the diverse ecosystems of the Cretaceous.

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