Description
Genuine Sellithyris Brachiopod Fossil from the Isle of Wight
This genuine Sellithyris sp. brachiopod fossil is a beautifully preserved marine invertebrate specimen originating from the Upper Greensand Formation at Atherfield on the Isle of Wight, United Kingdom. Dating to the Albian stage of the Lower Cretaceous period, approximately 113 to 100 million years ago, this fossil represents marine life from a warm shallow sea that once covered southern Britain during the Age of Dinosaurs.
The specimen shown in the photographs is the exact fossil you will receive. Carefully selected for its preservation, shell detail and natural display appeal, this authentic brachiopod fossil provides a fascinating glimpse into prehistoric marine ecosystems preserved within one of Britain’s most famous Cretaceous formations.
This fossil includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card confirming the specimen is 100% genuine.
Full sizing please see photo.
About Sellithyris Brachiopods
Sellithyris is an extinct genus of brachiopod belonging to the order Terebratulida, a highly successful group of marine filter-feeding organisms that flourished throughout the Mesozoic Era. Brachiopods superficially resemble clams due to their paired shells, but they belong to a completely separate branch of marine life with a much older evolutionary history.
Sellithyris species possessed smooth to gently ornamented shells with a strongly curved profile and symmetrical valve structure. These animals lived attached to the seabed using a fleshy stalk known as a pedicle, allowing them to anchor themselves within marine environments while filtering microscopic food particles from seawater.
The shell structure of Sellithyris was composed of calcite and often fossilised exceptionally well within fine marine sediments. Well-preserved specimens commonly display natural growth lines, shell curvature and subtle ornamentation associated with the genus.
This specimen preserves the classic morphology associated with Sellithyris brachiopods, including the naturally curved shell form and preserved valve structure typical of Lower Cretaceous terebratulid brachiopods.
Upper Greensand Formation and Albian Marine Environment
The Upper Greensand Formation is one of southern England’s most important Lower Cretaceous geological units and is particularly well exposed along the coastline of the Isle of Wight. The formation consists mainly of glauconitic sands, silts and marine sediments deposited within shallow warm seas during the Albian stage.
The name “Greensand” derives from the mineral glauconite, a green iron-rich mineral commonly found within these marine sediments. During the Lower Cretaceous, the Isle of Wight region was submerged beneath shallow tropical seas rich in marine life including ammonites, brachiopods, bivalves, echinoids and marine reptiles.
Atherfield is internationally recognised as an important fossil locality due to the diversity and preservation quality of its Lower Cretaceous fossils. The marine sediments accumulated slowly within relatively calm conditions, allowing delicate shell-bearing organisms such as brachiopods to fossilise in remarkable detail.
Natural Fossil Preservation
This fossil retains authentic natural preservation and has not been artificially replicated or reconstructed. The visible shell structure, mineralisation and surface textures formed naturally over millions of years through geological fossilisation processes.
The specimen displays genuine geological character with preserved anatomical features typical of fossil brachiopods from the Upper Greensand Formation. Variations in colour and surface texture are entirely natural and reflect the mineral-rich marine sediments in which the fossil formed.
Brachiopods from the Isle of Wight are highly collectable due to their historical geological importance and strong association with classic British fossil localities.
Scientific and Collectable Importance
Brachiopods are important marine fossils used by palaeontologists to study ancient marine ecosystems, environmental change and evolutionary history across geological time. Sellithyris and related terebratulid brachiopods are significant indicators of shallow marine conditions during the Cretaceous period.
The fossils of the Upper Greensand Formation contribute greatly to the understanding of Early Cretaceous marine life in Europe and remain highly valued by collectors and researchers alike.
This specimen is ideal for collectors of brachiopod fossils, Isle of Wight fossils, British fossils, Cretaceous fossils, marine invertebrates and authentic prehistoric natural history specimens.
Certificate of Authenticity
Included with the fossil is a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card confirming that the specimen is genuine. The photographs provided show the exact fossil you will receive, allowing collectors and buyers to purchase with complete confidence.
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