Description
Genuine Shiburnia stephani Ammonite Fossil – Bajocian, Dorset
This genuine fossil ammonite is identified as Shiburnia stephani, a collectable Middle Jurassic ammonite from the Inferior Oolite Group at Red Hole Lane, Sherborne, Dorset, UK. Dating to the Bajocian Stage of the Middle Jurassic, within the Sauzei–Laeviuscula interval, this specimen represents marine life from approximately 170 million years ago, when the region that is now Dorset lay beneath warm, shallow Jurassic seas.
This fossil is a carefully chosen specimen, with the photograph showing the actual fossil you will receive. Full sizing can be seen in the photo. It is supplied as a genuine specimen and includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card, making it an excellent addition to a fossil collection, natural history display, educational collection, or British Jurassic ammonite assemblage.
Fossil Type and Species
Ammonites were extinct marine cephalopods related to modern squid, cuttlefish, octopus, and nautilus. They lived inside coiled, chambered shells, with the animal occupying the final body chamber while earlier chambers helped regulate buoyancy. Their rapid evolution and wide distribution make ammonites among the most important fossils for dating and correlating Jurassic rocks.
Shiburnia stephani is a Bajocian ammonite associated with the Lower to early Middle Bajocian faunas of the Inferior Oolite succession. The genus name Shiburnia is closely connected with the Sherborne area, reflecting the importance of this part of Dorset in the study of Middle Jurassic ammonites. Species such as Shiburnia stephani are of particular interest to collectors because they combine a named identification, a precise Jurassic interval, and a classic British locality.
Shiburnia ammonites are generally recognised within the broader ammonoid group Ammonitida. They are associated with Bajocian hammatoceratid-style ammonite faunas, often showing a strongly Jurassic shell character with coiled whorls, ribbed ornamentation, and a form useful for palaeontological comparison. Depending on preservation and growth stage, the shell may show visible whorl development, flank ribbing, and a distinctive profile typical of ammonites from the Inferior Oolite.
Sauzei–Laeviuscula Interval and Scientific Interest
This specimen is from the Sauzei–Laeviuscula interval, an important part of the Bajocian ammonite succession. Ammonite zones and intervals are used by geologists because ammonites evolved quickly and can help place rock layers into a more precise geological sequence. The Sauzei and Laeviuscula zones are key divisions within the early Bajocian, and ammonites from this interval are valuable for understanding the development of Middle Jurassic marine faunas.
A fossil with this level of geological information is especially desirable because it is not simply an attractive ammonite; it also carries useful stratigraphic context. Named ammonites from defined intervals within the Inferior Oolite Group are sought after by collectors of British fossils, Jurassic ammonites, and scientifically labelled palaeontological specimens.
Inferior Oolite Group, Sherborne, Dorset
The Inferior Oolite Group is a famous Middle Jurassic rock unit found across parts of southern and western England. Despite the name “Inferior”, the term refers to its position below the Great Oolite in the geological succession, not to the quality of the fossils. These rocks are well known for producing ammonites, brachiopods, bivalves, gastropods, echinoids, corals, and other marine fossils.
At Red Hole Lane, Sherborne, the Inferior Oolite deposits record a shallow marine environment from the Bajocian. During this time, Dorset was part of a warm carbonate shelf sea. Lime-rich sediments, shell debris, and oolitic grains accumulated on the sea floor, later compacting into limestone and related sedimentary rocks. These conditions allowed many marine shells, including ammonites, to become preserved as fossils.
The ancient sea would have supported a diverse ecosystem of swimming cephalopods, seabed-dwelling invertebrates, and other marine organisms. Ammonites such as Shiburnia would have moved through this environment as active marine animals, becoming part of the fossil record after burial in Jurassic sediment.
Collectable British Jurassic Ammonite
This Shiburnia stephani ammonite fossil is a desirable specimen for collectors due to its named species, Dorset provenance, Middle Jurassic age, and association with the Sauzei–Laeviuscula interval. British ammonites from the Inferior Oolite are especially popular because of their scientific importance, attractive preservation, and connection to classic fossil localities across Dorset and Somerset.
The fossil is ideal for display, study, or inclusion in a labelled collection of UK fossils. Its Sherborne origin gives it strong regional interest, while the named identification provides greater collecting value than an unidentified ammonite.
Authenticity and Presentation
This fossil is a genuine specimen and includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card. The fossil has been carefully selected, and the photograph shows the actual specimen you will receive. Full sizing can be seen in the photo.
As a genuine Shiburnia stephani ammonite from Red Hole Lane, Sherborne, Dorset, this specimen offers an attractive and scientifically interesting example of Middle Jurassic marine life from the Inferior Oolite Group.
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