Rare Oxyparoniceras telmachi Fossil Ammonite Middle Toarcian Jurassic Aveyron France

Description

Rare Oxyparoniceras telmachi Fossil Ammonite from France

This listing offers a rare Oxyparoniceras telmachi fossil ammonite, a scientifically significant specimen dating to the Middle Toarcian Stage of the Early Jurassic, approximately 180 million years ago. Unearthed in Aveyron, southern France, this fossil embodies the rich marine history of the ancient Tethys Ocean. Every detail of its ribbed shell reflects the unique morphology of this rare ammonite species. The exact specimen shown in the photographs, complete with a 1 cm scale cube, is the one you will receive. As with all our offerings, this fossil is 100% genuine and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.

Geological Context

The Middle Toarcian Stage of the Early Jurassic was a time of dramatic environmental changes, marked by fluctuations in sea level and marine chemistry. This period followed the well-documented Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event, during which widespread low-oxygen conditions preserved countless marine organisms in exceptional detail. The fossil-bearing strata of Aveyron, France, are globally recognized for their rich ammonite faunas, making them crucial for understanding Jurassic paleontology.

Oxyparoniceras is characteristic of the Middle Toarcian faunal succession, helping paleontologists to refine biozonations used in international stratigraphy. Specimens such as this are invaluable not only to collectors but also to researchers studying evolutionary patterns and paleoecological conditions during this stage of Earth’s history.

Scientific Classification

• Genus/Species: Oxyparoniceras telmachi
• Family: Hammatoceratidae
• Superfamily: Hildoceratoidea
• Order: Ammonitida
• Class: Cephalopoda
• Age: Middle Toarcian, Early Jurassic (~180 million years old)
• Locality: Aveyron, France

Morphological Features

Oxyparoniceras telmachi is recognised by its elegantly ribbed, compressed shell, with whorls that exhibit strong yet refined ornamentation. The ribs often bifurcate or branch as they extend across the flanks, terminating along the venter with a subtle keel-like feature. This gives the shell both strength and hydrodynamic efficiency, traits essential for its active nektonic lifestyle.

The moderately involute coiling and compressed whorl section distinguish this genus from other Toarcian ammonites. These features not only aid in identification but also highlight the adaptive diversity that allowed ammonites to flourish throughout the Jurassic seas.

Paleoenvironment and Ecology

The warm shallow seas of the ancient Tethys Ocean once covered the region of present-day Aveyron. This ammonite lived as a free-swimming predator, using its tentacles to capture prey such as small crustaceans and fish. The shell’s chambered interior functioned as a buoyancy device, enabling fine depth control as it navigated the mid-water column.

Ammonites such as Oxyparoniceras telmachi formed part of a diverse ecosystem that included belemnites, bivalves, brachiopods, and marine reptiles such as ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs. Their abundance and rapid evolutionary turnover make them essential index fossils for correlating Jurassic strata across Europe and beyond.

Collectability and Display

This rare fossil ammonite from Aveyron is a remarkable collector’s specimen, both for its scientific value and aesthetic appeal. Its ribbing and overall form capture the elegance of Jurassic marine life, making it ideal for display in both private collections and educational settings.

• Specimen: Rare Oxyparoniceras telmachi ammonite
• Geological Age: Middle Toarcian, Early Jurassic (~180 million years old)
• Provenance: Aveyron, France
• Scale Reference: 1 cm cube included in photographs
• Authenticity: Guaranteed genuine with Certificate of Authenticity
• Condition: Exact specimen shown in photos will be sent

Owning this ammonite is owning a tangible link to the Jurassic seas, a fossil that connects you directly to life in the ancient Tethys Ocean nearly 180 million years ago.