Description
Rare Otohoplites bulliensis Ammonite Fossil
This is a rare Otohoplites bulliensis fossil ammonite from the Middle Albian stage of the Cretaceous Period, collected from Salin Les Bains, Aube, France. This carefully chosen fossil is a genuine specimen and includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card. The photograph shows the actual ammonite fossil you will receive, allowing you to view its natural preservation, shape, colour, surface texture and individual character before purchase.
This is an excellent fossil for collectors of rare ammonites, French fossils, Cretaceous marine fossils, natural history specimens and scientifically interesting cephalopods. Full sizing can be seen in the photo.
Cretaceous Geology and Age
Otohoplites bulliensis dates from the Middle Albian, part of the Early Cretaceous Period, approximately 109 to 106 million years old. During the Albian, much of western Europe was covered by shallow epicontinental seas. These warm marine environments supported a wide range of ammonites, bivalves, gastropods, echinoids, fish, marine reptiles and other prehistoric sea life.
The Albian is particularly important in ammonite palaeontology because many ammonite groups evolved rapidly during this time. Their changing shell forms and widespread distribution make them highly useful for dating and correlating Cretaceous marine sediments. Fossils from this stage help record ancient sea-level changes, marine ecosystems and the development of Cretaceous cephalopod faunas across Europe.
Fossil Type and Species
This specimen is an ammonite, an extinct marine cephalopod related to modern squid, cuttlefish and nautilus. Ammonites lived inside coiled, chambered shells. The animal occupied the final outer chamber, while the earlier chambers helped control buoyancy, allowing it to move through the ancient seas.
Species: Otohoplites bulliensis
Genus: Otohoplites
Family: Hoplitidae
Superfamily: Hoplitoidea
Order: Ammonitida
Class: Cephalopoda
Phylum: Mollusca
Otohoplites is a distinctive Cretaceous ammonite genus associated with Albian marine deposits. Hoplitid ammonites are well known for their attractive ribbing, ornamented whorls and strong value in biostratigraphy. They are popular among collectors because they combine scientific importance with a classic ammonite form and visually interesting shell features.
Morphology and Identification Features
Otohoplites bulliensis is valued for its characteristic coiled shell and ornamental ribbing. Ammonites of this group commonly display a compact planispiral form, with ribs that may curve or strengthen across the whorls. These ribs are not only attractive display features but also important diagnostic characteristics used by palaeontologists when identifying species and comparing related ammonite faunas.
The shell structure records the growth of the animal through life, with each whorl representing a successive stage of development. The chambered internal shell helped the ammonite regulate its position in the water column, while the outer body chamber housed the living animal. This combination of elegant spiral geometry and functional biological design is one reason ammonites remain among the most collectable fossils in the world.
Salin Les Bains, Aube, France Fossil Locality
This fossil comes from Salin Les Bains in Aube, France, a region associated with Cretaceous marine deposits. During the Middle Albian, sediments were laid down in ancient seabed environments, where ammonite shells and other marine remains could be buried and preserved. Over millions of years, mineralisation and compaction transformed these remains into fossils.
French Cretaceous ammonites are highly regarded by collectors because they represent classic European marine fossil localities and important intervals in ammonite evolution. A specimen identified as Otohoplites bulliensis from the Albian of France offers both display appeal and geological interest, making it suitable for specialist ammonite collections as well as general natural history displays.
Authenticity and Collector Appeal
This rare Otohoplites bulliensis ammonite is a genuine fossil specimen and includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card. It has been carefully selected as a quality collector’s piece, and the photograph shows the exact specimen supplied.
As with all genuine fossils, natural cracks, mineralisation, matrix, surface marks, preparation marks, colour variation and age-related wear may be present. These are normal features of authentic fossils and form part of the specimen’s individual geological history. This Middle Albian ammonite from Salin Les Bains, Aube, France is ideal for fossil collectors, Cretaceous ammonite enthusiasts, educational collections, geology displays and anyone seeking a genuine named species fossil from an important period of prehistoric marine life.
