Scaphites villoutreysi Ammonite Fossil Cenomanian France with COA

Description

This listing is for the exact genuine ammonite fossil shown in the photographs: a specimen of Scaphites villoutreysi from Haute-Provence, France. It dates from the Middle Cenomanian stage of the Late Cretaceous Period and is supplied with our lifetime Certificate of Authenticity. The certificate records its identification, geological age and locality, providing a lasting reference for your collection.

Scaphites is a distinctive heteromorph ammonite. Unlike ammonites that remained tightly coiled throughout growth, scaphitid shells developed through a coiled juvenile stage followed by an adult body chamber that partly uncoiled and curved back towards the earlier whorls. This hooked outline makes the genus immediately recognisable. Scaphites villoutreysi is an unusual and collectable species, offering an excellent example of the evolutionary variety achieved by Cretaceous cephalopods.

Ammonites were extinct marine molluscs related to living squid, cuttlefish and nautiluses. Their shells were divided internally into chambers. The animal occupied the final body chamber, while the earlier chambers helped regulate buoyancy. Shell shape, coiling, ribbing and suture patterns provide important features for identification and comparison. The specialised geometry of heteromorph shells may also have influenced orientation and movement in the water.

The fossil comes from Haute-Provence in southeastern France, a region renowned for its Mesozoic geology and fossil-bearing marine strata. During the Cenomanian, this area lay within a warm marine realm connected to the ancient Tethys Ocean. Sediment accumulated on the seabed and buried shells and other remains. Burial and geological change later transformed these deposits into the rocks that now preserve ammonites and other evidence of Cretaceous marine life.

The Middle Cenomanian lies within the earliest stage of the Late Cretaceous, approximately 96 to 94 million years ago. Sea levels were high and broad marine environments extended across much of Europe. These waters supported ammonites, bivalves, echinoids and many other organisms. Fossils from Haute-Provence provide direct evidence of these ecosystems and of the changing geography of the Tethyan region.

Ammonite lineages evolved rapidly and many species were distributed across wide marine areas. Palaeontologists therefore use them as index fossils to correlate and date sedimentary rock layers. A specimen with an identified species, stage and locality is more than a decorative object: it is direct evidence of biological evolution and an ancient marine environment.

Please inspect every photograph carefully because the images form an essential part of the description. You will receive the exact fossil pictured, not a stock example or a similar substitute. Natural matrix, surface texture, colour variation, incomplete shell areas, mineral deposits and small imperfections are normal characteristics of an authentic fossil and are shown honestly. For full sizing and proportions, please use the measuring reference visible in the photographs.

This Scaphites villoutreysi would suit a collector of heteromorph ammonites, French fossils, Cenomanian cephalopods or Late Cretaceous life. It is also an effective educational specimen for explaining ammonite growth, adaptation and diversity. It would make a thoughtful gift for a fossil collector, geology student or natural history enthusiast.

The specimen will be packed carefully for dispatch. Handle it gently and keep it in a stable, dry display environment. The included generic lifetime Certificate of Authenticity identifies it as Scaphites villoutreysi, records its Middle Cenomanian age, and gives Haute-Provence, France as the locality. This is a genuine natural fossil with scientific, historic and display interest.