Description
Genuine Stephanoceras nodatilingue Ammonite Fossil
This listing is for a genuine Stephanoceras nodatilingue ammonite fossil from the Inferior Oolite Group, Jurassic, Denifurca Zone, Red Hole Lane, Sherborne, Dorset. This carefully chosen specimen is a classic British Jurassic ammonite from a well-known fossil-bearing area of southern England, ideal for collectors of ammonites, Dorset fossils, Inferior Oolite fossils, Jurassic marine fossils, UK palaeontology specimens, and natural history display pieces.
The fossil shown in the photographs is the actual specimen you will receive. Full sizing and scale can be seen in the listing photos. This fossil is supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card, giving reassurance that the specimen is genuine and carefully selected for collecting, display, gifting, and educational interest.
Fossil Type, Species and Classification
Stephanoceras nodatilingue is an extinct ammonite, a marine cephalopod related to modern squid, cuttlefish, octopus, and nautilus. Ammonites lived in ancient seas and possessed chambered shells divided internally by septa. The living animal occupied the outer body chamber, while the earlier chambers helped with buoyancy control as the animal moved through the Jurassic sea.
Stephanoceras belongs to the order Ammonitida and is associated with the family Stephanoceratidae, a group of strongly ornamented Jurassic ammonites. Members of Stephanoceras are known for their robust coiled shells, rounded whorls, strong ribbing, and prominent tubercles or nodular ornament. These features make them highly attractive fossils for collectors, as their shell form is often bold, sculptural, and visually distinctive.
The species Stephanoceras nodatilingue is a desirable named ammonite from the Inferior Oolite succession. Its ribbed and nodose morphology reflects the shell structure of a successful Jurassic marine cephalopod, with ornamentation that may have contributed to shell strength, hydrodynamics, species recognition, or protection.
Inferior Oolite Group and Denifurca Zone
This ammonite comes from the Inferior Oolite Group, a famous Middle Jurassic rock unit in southern England. The Inferior Oolite is particularly well known for its fossil-rich limestones, iron-rich beds, and diverse marine faunas, including ammonites, bivalves, brachiopods, gastropods, echinoids, corals, and other invertebrates.
The Denifurca Zone is an important ammonite biozone within the Jurassic succession and is used to help date and correlate the fossil-bearing layers. Ammonites are especially valuable for biostratigraphy because they evolved rapidly and were widely distributed in ancient seas. A specimen from a named zone such as the Denifurca Zone has added geological interest, connecting the fossil not only to a place, but also to a specific interval of Jurassic time.
Red Hole Lane, Sherborne, Dorset
Red Hole Lane near Sherborne in Dorset is associated with fossil-bearing Jurassic deposits of the Inferior Oolite Group. Dorset is internationally famous for its geology and fossil heritage, with Jurassic rocks exposed across the county and surrounding areas. While the coast is especially well known, inland localities such as Sherborne also preserve important marine fossils from the ancient seas that once covered this part of Britain.
During the Jurassic, the region that is now Dorset lay beneath a warm, shallow marine environment. Carbonate-rich sediments, shell debris, and lime mud accumulated on the sea floor, later hardening into limestone beds. These deposits preserved the remains of ammonites and other marine animals, giving modern collectors a window into the biodiversity of Britain’s Jurassic seas.
Morphology and Display Features
Stephanoceras ammonites are especially collectable because of their strong shell ornamentation. Depending on preservation, this specimen may show coiled whorls, raised ribs, nodular tubercles, shell curvature, chamber structure, mineral staining, and natural surface detail. The ribbing and tubercles give the ammonite a bold, textured appearance that makes it an attractive display fossil as well as an interesting scientific specimen.
As a genuine fossil, it may display natural cracks, repairs, matrix traces, weathered areas, colour variation, sediment contact marks, or surface wear consistent with ancient burial and geological preservation. These natural features are part of the fossil’s individual character and reflect its long history within the Jurassic rocks of Dorset.
Certificate of Authenticity
This fossil is a genuine specimen and includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card. The certificate provides reassurance that the item supplied is an authentic fossil specimen and not a modern replica or cast.
Collectable British Jurassic Ammonite
A genuine Stephanoceras nodatilingue ammonite from the Inferior Oolite Group, Denifurca Zone, Red Hole Lane, Sherborne, Dorset, is a desirable addition to any fossil collection. It combines a named ammonite species, a classic British Jurassic locality, strong shell ornamentation, and clear geological context. This specimen is well suited for collectors of ammonites, Dorset fossils, Jurassic cephalopods, Inferior Oolite specimens, educational geology displays, and authentic natural history pieces.
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