Description
Tiltoniceras costatum Ammonite Fossil
This genuine Tiltoniceras costatum ammonite fossil is a collectible Lower Jurassic marine specimen from Germany. Dating to the Toarcian stage, this fossil represents an attractive European ammonite from the ancient Jurassic seas that once covered large areas of what is now central Europe. Tiltoniceras ammonites are valued by collectors for their classic coiled form, ribbed ornamentation and connection with Lower Jurassic ammonite faunas.
The specimen is a carefully chosen piece, with the photograph showing the actual fossil you will receive. It is supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card, making it an excellent choice for collectors of German fossils, Jurassic ammonites, natural history specimens, educational geology displays and fossil cabinets.
Geology, Age and Locality
This fossil comes from the Toarcian stage of the Lower Jurassic, an interval dating to approximately 184 to 174 million years ago. During this period, much of Europe was covered by shallow to moderately deep marine seas connected to the wider Tethyan realm. These Jurassic seas supported a diverse ecosystem of ammonites, belemnites, bivalves, brachiopods, crinoids, gastropods, fish and other marine organisms.
Germany is famous for its Lower Jurassic fossil deposits, particularly those that preserve ammonites from marine sediments laid down in ancient epicontinental seas. Fine muds, silts and carbonate-rich sediments accumulated on the seabed, gradually burying the shells of ammonites and other marine animals. Over millions of years, these sediments compacted and hardened into fossil-bearing rock, preserving specimens such as Tiltoniceras costatum as genuine natural history fossils.
German Jurassic ammonites are especially popular with collectors because they combine classic European geological provenance, attractive preservation and strong scientific interest. A labelled ammonite from Germany is a desirable addition to any collection of Lower Jurassic fossils, Toarcian ammonites or European marine specimens.
Fossil Type and Species Details
Tiltoniceras costatum is an ammonite, an extinct marine cephalopod related to modern squid, cuttlefish and nautilus. Ammonites lived inside coiled external shells divided into internal chambers. The living animal occupied the final body chamber, while the empty chambers helped regulate buoyancy as it moved through the water column.
The genus Tiltoniceras is associated with Lower Jurassic ammonite faunas and is particularly linked with the Toarcian stage. The species name costatum refers to ribbing, a key feature of many ammonites where raised ribs run across the shell surface. These ribs helped strengthen the shell and are also important features used in ammonite identification.
Tiltoniceras ammonites are generally recognised by their coiled shell form and ribbed ornament. Their elegant Jurassic appearance makes them appealing display fossils, while their stratigraphic value gives them additional scientific interest. Ammonites evolved rapidly and were widely distributed across ancient seas, making them important guide fossils for dating and correlating marine rock layers.
Classification and Scientific Interest
Tiltoniceras costatum belongs to the order Ammonitida, a major group of Mesozoic ammonites that flourished throughout the Jurassic and Cretaceous before becoming extinct at the end of the Cretaceous Period. Toarcian ammonites are especially important in palaeontology because their species succession can be used to divide Lower Jurassic rocks into fine biostratigraphic zones.
As a Toarcian ammonite, this fossil represents a period of major change in Jurassic marine ecosystems. Ammonite faunas diversified and evolved through the stage, leaving behind a detailed fossil record that helps geologists understand ancient seas, environmental change and the relative age of sedimentary rocks.
Toarcian Marine Environment
When this ammonite was alive, the region that is now Germany formed part of a Jurassic marine environment. Ammonites such as Tiltoniceras costatum were active swimming animals, moving through the water alongside belemnites, fish and other marine life. The seabed supported communities of bivalves, brachiopods, gastropods, crinoids and other invertebrates adapted to changing sediment and oxygen conditions.
The ammonite shell was both protective and functional. Its internal chambers allowed buoyancy control, while the external ribs strengthened the shell and created the distinctive natural patterning that makes ammonites so recognisable today. This combination of natural beauty, geological age and scientific value is why ammonites remain one of the most popular fossil groups for collectors.
Genuine Fossil with Certificate of Authenticity
This fossil is a genuine specimen and includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card. Full sizing please see photo. The fossil shown in the photograph is the actual specimen you will receive, allowing you to buy with confidence and add a carefully selected, authentic Lower Jurassic ammonite fossil from Germany to your collection.
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