Description
Genuine Stephanoceras brodiali Ammonite from Oborne, Dorset
This genuine Stephanoceras brodiali ammonite fossil comes from the Inferior Oolite Formation at Oborne, Dorset, UK. Dating from the Middle Jurassic, Bajocian stage, Romani Subzone, this carefully chosen specimen is a desirable British ammonite with strong geological, scientific, and display appeal. Fossils with a named species, formation, geological stage, subzone, and locality are especially valued by collectors because they provide clear palaeontological context as well as attractive natural form.
The photograph shows the actual fossil specimen you will receive, allowing you to view the real preservation, shell shape, surface detail, matrix, colour, and natural character before purchase. Full sizing can be seen in the photo, making it easy to assess the scale and suitability of this individual piece for a fossil cabinet, collector’s tray, desk display, educational collection, or natural history gift.
Fossil Type, Species and Scientific Classification
Stephanoceras brodiali is an extinct ammonite species belonging to the wider group of coiled marine cephalopod molluscs known as ammonites. Ammonites were related to modern squid, cuttlefish, octopus, and nautilus, although ammonites themselves became extinct at the end of the Cretaceous Period.
Stephanoceras is generally placed within the order Ammonitida, superfamily Stephanoceratoidea, and family Stephanoceratidae. This family includes many classic Middle Jurassic ammonites known for robust coiling, rounded whorls, strong ribbing, and bold shell ornament. A named species such as Stephanoceras brodiali gives this fossil stronger collecting and scientific interest than a general ammonite specimen, making it particularly appealing for collectors of Jurassic cephalopods and British fossils.
Morphology and Natural Features
Stephanoceras ammonites are well known for their sculptural, three-dimensional shell form. They usually display a planispiral coil, meaning the shell coils in a single flat plane, with rounded to inflated whorls. Many stephanoceratid ammonites show pronounced primary ribs, branching secondary ribs, and raised ornamental features such as nodes or tubercles, depending on preservation and growth stage.
Like other ammonites, Stephanoceras had an internally chambered shell. The living animal occupied the outer body chamber, while the earlier chambers helped with buoyancy control in the Jurassic sea. The rib spacing, whorl profile, ornamentation, and coiling pattern are important features used in ammonite identification and are part of what makes this fossil visually interesting.
Natural features may include visible whorl structure, mineralised shell surface, sediment staining, matrix attachment, worn high points, partial preservation, or small irregularities from fossilisation. These characteristics are part of the specimen’s genuine geological history and give it individual display character.
Geological Age, Zone and Subzone
This fossil dates from the Bajocian stage of the Middle Jurassic and is associated with the Romani Subzone. The Bajocian was an important interval in ammonite evolution, with many distinctive ammonite groups developing rapidly in shallow marine environments. Ammonites are especially useful in biostratigraphy because they evolved quickly and were widely distributed across ancient seas, allowing geologists to use them for dating and correlating Jurassic rock layers.
The Romani Subzone gives this specimen a more precise stratigraphic position within the Middle Jurassic. This added geological detail is valuable for collectors interested in ammonite succession, fossil zones, and well-documented locality specimens.
Inferior Oolite Formation and Oborne Locality
The Inferior Oolite Formation is a famous British Jurassic rock unit known for fossil-rich limestones and oolitic sediments. Oolitic limestone is formed from tiny rounded carbonate grains called ooids, which developed in warm, shallow marine waters where currents moved carbonate particles across the sea floor. These carbonate-rich sediments later hardened into limestone, preserving the shells and remains of Jurassic marine life.
During the Bajocian, the area now forming Oborne and wider Dorset was covered by a shallow sea. This environment supported ammonites, belemnites, brachiopods, bivalves, gastropods, echinoids, fish, and many other marine organisms. Oborne is a named Dorset locality, adding strong provenance and giving this Stephanoceras brodiali specimen a clear connection to the Middle Jurassic fossil record of southern England.
Genuine Specimen with Certificate of Authenticity
This Stephanoceras brodiali ammonite fossil is a genuine specimen and includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card. The certificate provides added confidence for fossil collectors, schools, gift buyers, and anyone building a verified natural history collection.
The fossil shown in the photograph is the actual specimen supplied. This means the piece you see is the piece you will receive, complete with its own natural preservation, shell detail, matrix, colour, shape, and individual character.
Collecting, Display and Educational Appeal
A Stephanoceras brodiali ammonite from the Inferior Oolite Formation is an excellent addition to a British Jurassic fossil collection. It pairs well with other Middle Jurassic ammonites, belemnites, brachiopods, bivalves, gastropods, echinoids, and marine fossils from Dorset, Somerset, and the wider Jurassic Coast region.
With its named species identification, Bajocian age, Romani Subzone, Oborne locality, Inferior Oolite Formation origin, and included Certificate of Authenticity, this fossil offers strong collecting, educational, and decorative appeal.
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