RARE Oxytropidoceras acutocarineatum Ammonite Fossil Goodland Formation Lower Albian Cretaceous Texas USA

Description

Rare Oxytropidoceras acutocarineatum Ammonite Fossil

This listing offers a rare and genuine specimen of Oxytropidoceras acutocarineatum, an ammonite fossil from the Goodland Formation, dating to the Lower Albian stage of the Early Cretaceous period (approximately 113–110 million years ago). Found near Benbrook, Texas, USA, this ammonite is a striking and scientifically significant fossil, known for its characteristic ribbing and distinctive shell features. As with all of our fossils, this piece comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, guaranteeing that it is 100% genuine. The photographs provided show the actual specimen you will receive, with a 1 cm scale cube included for accurate size reference.

Geological Context

The Goodland Formation is a well-documented Cretaceous marine deposit in Texas, consisting largely of limestones and marls. These rocks were deposited in shallow seas that covered much of North America during the Albian stage of the Early Cretaceous. The formation is especially significant because it yields an abundance of marine invertebrates, including ammonites, echinoids, and mollusks.

The Lower Albian was a period of global marine transgression, with shallow epicontinental seas creating highly productive environments. Organisms such as ammonites thrived in these warm, nutrient-rich waters, and their fossil remains provide important insight into the evolutionary development of Cretaceous marine faunas.

Taxonomy and Classification

• Order: Ammonitida
• Superfamily: Acanthoceratoidea
• Family: Brancoceratidae
• Genus: Oxytropidoceras
• Species: Oxytropidoceras acutocarineatum

This species is part of the brancoceratid ammonites, which are recognized for their ornate shell ornamentation and rapid evolutionary changes, making them particularly useful for stratigraphic correlation.

Morphological Features

This specimen of Oxytropidoceras acutocarineatum displays the typical strongly ribbed shell with sharply defined ventral keels and tuberculation along the ribs. The ribs radiate from the umbilicus, often bifurcating across the flanks before reaching the venter, giving the shell a strikingly ornamented appearance.

The genus Oxytropidoceras is notable for its compressed whorl section and keel structure, which provided stability and hydrodynamic efficiency for movement in the marine environment. These ammonites were likely active predators, using their tentacles to capture prey such as crustaceans and small fish while maintaining buoyancy in mid-water environments.

Scientific and Collector Importance

Oxytropidoceras acutocarineatum is both a biostratigraphically significant species and a highly desirable collector fossil. The rapid evolutionary turnover of brancoceratid ammonites makes them excellent markers for dividing the Albian stage into biozones, which helps geologists correlate rock layers across different geographic regions.

For collectors, this specimen offers a combination of rare provenance, distinct morphology, and excellent preservation. Its bold ribbing and sharp keel make it visually impressive, while its origin in the Goodland Formation adds historical and scientific importance.

Provenance and Authenticity

This fossil was collected near Benbrook, Texas, in the Goodland Formation, a famous fossil-bearing limestone deposit from the Early Cretaceous. The specimen has been carefully cleaned and prepared to highlight its natural features without artificial enhancement. It is sold with a Certificate of Authenticity, confirming its identity and provenance as a genuine fossil.

This rare Oxytropidoceras acutocarineatum ammonite fossil from the Lower Albian stage of the Cretaceous is an outstanding addition for collectors, educators, or enthusiasts of natural history. Its scientific significance, striking morphology, and guaranteed authenticity make it a remarkable piece of Earth’s prehistoric heritage.