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Tentaculites ornatus Fossil Orthocone | Wenlock Limestone Silurian Wrens Nest Dudley UK | Genuine Specimen with COA

Tentaculites ornatus Fossil Orthocone | Wenlock Limestone Silurian Wrens Nest Dudley UK | Genuine Specimen with COA

Original price was: £42.00.Current price is: £37.80.

Own a unique and scientifically significant Tentaculites ornatus fossil from the Wenlock Limestone Formation, dating to the Wenlockian stage of the Silurian period, found at the world-renowned Wrens Nest site in Dudley, West Midlands, UK. Often mistaken for small orthocone cephalopods due to their tapered shell shape, Tentaculites are now thought to be a separate group of extinct marine organisms with uncertain affinities, possibly related to molluscs or annelids.

Fossil Type: Tentaculitid (extinct marine invertebrate, orthocone-like)

Species: Tentaculites ornatus

Geological Period: Silurian (~443 to 419 million years ago)

Geological Stage: Wenlockian (specifically Wenlock Epoch, ~433 to 427 million years ago)

Formation: Wenlock Limestone Formation

Location: Wrens Nest, Dudley, West Midlands, UK

Scale Rule: Squares/Cube = 1cm (Please refer to the photo for full sizing)

Specimen: The exact item pictured is what you will receive

Authenticity: All of our fossils are 100% genuine specimens and come with a Certificate of Authenticity

Geological and Paleontological Information

Tentaculites ornatus is a small, cone-shaped fossil characterized by its fine transverse ornamentation and radial symmetry. It lived on the seafloor or floated in the water column during the Silurian period. The exact classification of Tentaculitids remains debated, but they are a common component of Silurian marine assemblages, especially in the Wenlock Limestone.

  • Kingdom: Animalia (uncertain phylum, traditionally placed within Mollusca or Lophophorata)
  • Class: Tentaculita (extinct)
  • Order: Tentaculitida
  • Family: Tentaculitidae
  • Geological Stage: Wenlockian (mid-Silurian)
  • Depositional Environment: Shallow, warm marine shelf; low-energy carbonate platform with rich biodiversity, including trilobites, brachiopods, corals, and cephalopods
  • Morphological Features: Small, conical shell with fine growth lines and ornamented with distinct annulations; typically tapers to a pointed apex with broader apertural end
  • Notable: Wrens Nest is a globally recognized site of Silurian marine paleontology and was instrumental in the historical development of stratigraphy and paleobiology in the 19th century
  • Biozone: Likely associated with Wenlockian graptolite and brachiopod biozones (e.g., Cyrtograptus biozones), though precise zonation is layer-dependent
  • Identifier: Originally described in 19th-century literature; specimens from Dudley are among the best documented in Britain

Why This Fossil is Noteworthy

Although often confused with juvenile orthocones, Tentaculites ornatus represents a distinct and fascinating fossil group. Its presence in the Wenlock Limestone Formation connects it to one of the most fossiliferous and historically significant Silurian deposits in the world.

Why Buy From Us?

  • 100% genuine fossil with Certificate of Authenticity
  • Exact specimen shown in photo is the one you will receive
  • Ethically sourced from renowned fossil localities
  • Suitable for collectors, educators, and natural history enthusiasts

Take home a real piece of the Silurian seas of ancient Britain with this beautifully preserved Tentaculites ornatus fossil from Wrens Nest, Dudley—a unique glimpse into life over 425 million years ago.

(Actual as seen)

Only 1 left in stock

SKU: UF3375 Category:

Description

Own a unique and scientifically significant Tentaculites ornatus fossil from the Wenlock Limestone Formation, dating to the Wenlockian stage of the Silurian period, found at the world-renowned Wrens Nest site in Dudley, West Midlands, UK. Often mistaken for small orthocone cephalopods due to their tapered shell shape, Tentaculites are now thought to be a separate group of extinct marine organisms with uncertain affinities, possibly related to molluscs or annelids.

Fossil Type: Tentaculitid (extinct marine invertebrate, orthocone-like)

Species: Tentaculites ornatus

Geological Period: Silurian (~443 to 419 million years ago)

Geological Stage: Wenlockian (specifically Wenlock Epoch, ~433 to 427 million years ago)

Formation: Wenlock Limestone Formation

Location: Wrens Nest, Dudley, West Midlands, UK

Scale Rule: Squares/Cube = 1cm (Please refer to the photo for full sizing)

Specimen: The exact item pictured is what you will receive

Authenticity: All of our fossils are 100% genuine specimens and come with a Certificate of Authenticity

Geological and Paleontological Information

Tentaculites ornatus is a small, cone-shaped fossil characterized by its fine transverse ornamentation and radial symmetry. It lived on the seafloor or floated in the water column during the Silurian period. The exact classification of Tentaculitids remains debated, but they are a common component of Silurian marine assemblages, especially in the Wenlock Limestone.

  • Kingdom: Animalia (uncertain phylum, traditionally placed within Mollusca or Lophophorata)
  • Class: Tentaculita (extinct)
  • Order: Tentaculitida
  • Family: Tentaculitidae
  • Geological Stage: Wenlockian (mid-Silurian)
  • Depositional Environment: Shallow, warm marine shelf; low-energy carbonate platform with rich biodiversity, including trilobites, brachiopods, corals, and cephalopods
  • Morphological Features: Small, conical shell with fine growth lines and ornamented with distinct annulations; typically tapers to a pointed apex with broader apertural end
  • Notable: Wrens Nest is a globally recognized site of Silurian marine paleontology and was instrumental in the historical development of stratigraphy and paleobiology in the 19th century
  • Biozone: Likely associated with Wenlockian graptolite and brachiopod biozones (e.g., Cyrtograptus biozones), though precise zonation is layer-dependent
  • Identifier: Originally described in 19th-century literature; specimens from Dudley are among the best documented in Britain

Why This Fossil is Noteworthy

Although often confused with juvenile orthocones, Tentaculites ornatus represents a distinct and fascinating fossil group. Its presence in the Wenlock Limestone Formation connects it to one of the most fossiliferous and historically significant Silurian deposits in the world.

Why Buy From Us?

  • 100% genuine fossil with Certificate of Authenticity
  • Exact specimen shown in photo is the one you will receive
  • Ethically sourced from renowned fossil localities
  • Suitable for collectors, educators, and natural history enthusiasts

Take home a real piece of the Silurian seas of ancient Britain with this beautifully preserved Tentaculites ornatus fossil from Wrens Nest, Dudley—a unique glimpse into life over 425 million years ago.

Additional information

Era

Silurian
Origin

United Kingdom

Silurian Information

The Silurian Period (443–419 million years ago) was a time of climate stabilization following the end-Ordovician mass extinction. The climate became warmer, and sea levels rose, leading to the expansion of shallow marine ecosystems. Coral reefs flourished, and new marine predators like Eurypterids (sea scorpions) and early jawed fish emerged. One of the most significant events was the colonization of land—early vascular plants such as Cooksonia appeared, along with the first arthropods to venture onto land. These evolutionary advances set the stage for the more complex terrestrial ecosystems that developed in the Devonian.

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