Sphaeroidothyris sphaeroidalis Brachiopod Fossil Dorset UK with COA

Description

Genuine Jurassic Brachiopod Fossil

This genuine fossil brachiopod is identified as Sphaeroidothyris sphaeroidalis and comes from the Inferior Oolite Group at Burton Bradstock, Dorset, UK. It dates to the Bajocian Stage of the Middle Jurassic and is a carefully selected British specimen with valuable species, geological-group, age, and locality information. The photographs show the exact fossil offered for sale, so the specimen pictured is the piece you will receive.

Brachiopods are marine animals with two hard valves surrounding the soft body. Although their shells can superficially resemble those of bivalve molluscs, brachiopods belong to a completely different animal group. Their two valves are arranged dorsally and ventrally rather than as left and right halves. Many brachiopods lived attached to or resting on the sea floor and fed by filtering small particles from seawater with a specialised organ called a lophophore.

Sphaeroidothyris Shell Form

Sphaeroidothyris sphaeroidalis is recognised by its rounded, inflated shell form. The paired valves create a compact profile that gives the genus its characteristic appearance. Examine the photographs for the overall outline, valve curvature, hinge region, growth lines, and natural surface detail preserved on this individual fossil.

The shell records the animal’s growth through successive increments. Where visible, subtle lines and changes in curvature provide evidence of how the brachiopod enlarged during life. Natural wear, matrix, mineral colour, and small irregularities are part of the fossil’s geological history rather than features of a manufactured object.

Bajocian Geological Age

The Bajocian is a stage within the Middle Jurassic Period. During this interval, shallow marine environments covered parts of what is now southern Britain. Sea-floor communities included brachiopods, ammonites, bivalves, echinoids, and other invertebrates. When shells became buried by sediment, some escaped complete destruction and were preserved through mineralisation and compaction.

A specimen with documented Bajocian age has useful context for a collection arranged by geological period or stage. It also provides a tangible example of the animals living on Jurassic sea floors while ammonites swam in the water above.

Inferior Oolite Group

The Inferior Oolite Group is an important Middle Jurassic succession in southern England. Its limestones and associated beds preserve rich evidence of ancient marine ecosystems. The term oolite refers to limestone that commonly contains small rounded carbonate grains formed in moving shallow water, although the group includes a range of sedimentary rocks.

Burial within these deposits protected the brachiopod shell. The specimen’s matrix, natural colour, mineral texture, and any small breaks or surface differences reflect its long history within the rock. These characteristics add authenticity and make every fossil a unique geological object.

Burton Bradstock, Dorset

Burton Bradstock is a well-known Dorset locality associated with Jurassic rocks. Provenance to a named collecting area gives this specimen more context than an unlocalised fossil. It can complement a collection organised by brachiopod species, British locality, Inferior Oolite geology, or Middle Jurassic age.

Dorset is internationally celebrated for its Jurassic fossils, and brachiopods provide an important view of the sea-floor fauna beyond the more familiar ammonites. This specimen is therefore suitable for teaching, comparison, or display in a broader palaeontological collection.

Exact Specimen, Size and Authenticity

Full sizing is shown in the photographs, which provide the clearest scale and condition information for this individual fossil. The images are not stock photographs and do not represent a similar example. They show the exact Sphaeroidothyris sphaeroidalis brachiopod that will be supplied.

This is a genuine fossil specimen and includes a generic Certificate of Authenticity card with a lifetime guarantee. It has been carefully chosen for its distinctive rounded shell, Bajocian age, Inferior Oolite provenance, and Burton Bradstock locality. It makes an engaging addition to a cabinet collection, educational display, office, study, or gift for anyone interested in authentic British Jurassic fossils.