Trace Fossil – Ophiomorpha Burrow, Corallian Beds Oxfordian Jurassic, Cothill Dry Sandford Pit UK – Genuine Specimen with COA

Description

Now available is a rare and well-preserved trace fossil of Ophiomorpha, collected from the Corallian Beds (Oxfordian Stage, Late Jurassic) at Cothill, Dry Sandford Pit, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. This trace fossil captures the preserved activity of ancient burrowing crustaceans, rather than the animals themselves.

Fossil Type:

• Ichnofossil (Trace Fossil)
• Ichnogenus: Ophiomorpha
• Likely Producer: Burrowing decapod crustaceans (e.g., ghost shrimp or thalassinideans)
• Ophiomorpha is known for its distinct, pellet-lined burrow walls and branching tunnel systems

Geological & Stratigraphic Context:

• Formation: Corallian Beds (Corallian Group)
• Stage: Oxfordian
• Period: Late Jurassic
• Age: Approx. 163.5 to 157.3 million years ago
• Location: Cothill, Dry Sandford Pit, Oxfordshire, UK
• Depositional Environment: Shallow marine to marginal marine setting, such as barrier-bar or tidal channels within carbonate-rich platforms
• Lithology: Typically preserved in fine-grained calcareous sandstones or sandy limestones

Morphological Features:

• Cylindrical burrow tunnels with nodular or pellet-textured walls, formed by sediment manipulation
• Often curved or branching, sometimes with flared openings
• Surface texture suggests reinforcement behavior by the burrow-producing animal to stabilise tunnel walls in soft sediment

Scientific & Educational Value:

• Ophiomorpha is a key ichnofossil for reconstructing paleoenvironmental and ethological behavior of Jurassic marine invertebrates
• Important in identifying sedimentological facies and depositional processes in shallow marine environments
• Fossils from Dry Sandford Pit SSSI are especially valued due to their stratigraphic clarity and consistent preservation quality

The photos show the actual specimen you will receive, with a 1cm square scale cube included for sizing. This is a carefully chosen piece exhibiting excellent trace detail.

Authenticity Guaranteed: All our fossils are 100% genuine natural specimens and come with a Certificate of Authenticity. This Ophiomorpha burrow is ideal for collectors, educators, ichnologists, and fossil enthusiasts.

Please consult the photos for full sizing and condition. A unique chance to acquire a scientifically important and visually intriguing Ophiomorpha trace fossil from the Oxfordian Corallian Beds of Oxfordshire.