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Trace Fossil – Ophiomorpha Burrow, Eocene Reading Beds, Knowl Hill Berks UK – Genuine Specimen with COA

Trace Fossil – Ophiomorpha Burrow, Eocene Reading Beds, Knowl Hill Berks UK – Genuine Specimen with COA

£24.00

Now available is a rare and scientifically significant trace fossil of Ophiomorpha, collected from the Reading Beds of the Eocene Epoch, near Knowl Hill, Berkshire, United Kingdom. Trace fossils such as this represent the preserved activity of ancient organisms, in this case, a burrowing crustacean.

Fossil Type:

  • Ichnofossil (Trace Fossil)
  • Ichnogenus: Ophiomorpha
  • Interpreted Originator: Likely a ghost shrimp or similar decapod crustacean
  • Ophiomorpha is characterised by its burrows reinforced with pellet-lined walls, formed by crustaceans dwelling in soft sediments

Geological & Stratigraphic Context:

  • Formation: Reading Beds (part of the Lambeth Group)
  • Stage: Ypresian Stage
  • Epoch: Early Eocene
  • Age: Approx. 56 to 47.8 million years ago
  • Locality: Knowl Hill, Berkshire, UK
  • Depositional Environment: Shallow marine to marginal marine setting such as estuarine or deltaic environments, where crustaceans created reinforced burrow systems in muddy or sandy sediments

Morphological Features:

  • Distinct cylindrical burrow structure, often branching or curving
  • Pelleted or knobbly texture on burrow walls due to sediment pellets placed by the original animal
  • Typically preserved in fine-grained sandstone or clay-rich matrices
  • Represents in-situ behavioural evidence, not a body fossil

Scientific & Collector Significance:

  • Ophiomorpha is an important ichnofossil used in sedimentological and paleoenvironmental reconstructions
  • Helps interpret the behavior and ecology of Eocene crustaceans and the conditions of their habitats
  • Rarely found in such clearly defined form in Reading Beds sediments, making this specimen especially valuable

This specimen is shown in the photos with a 1cm scale cube, and you will receive the exact fossil pictured. It has been carefully selected for the clarity of its trace morphology and geological context.

Authenticity Guaranteed: This is a 100% genuine natural fossil, and includes a Certificate of Authenticity. A superb addition to any collection focused on paleontology, sedimentology, or trace fossil studies.

Please review all images for full details and sizing. A rare opportunity to own a real Ophiomorpha burrow trace fossil from the Early Eocene of southern England.

(Actual as seen)

Out of stock

SKU: UF3875 Category:

Description

Now available is a rare and scientifically significant trace fossil of Ophiomorpha, collected from the Reading Beds of the Eocene Epoch, near Knowl Hill, Berkshire, United Kingdom. Trace fossils such as this represent the preserved activity of ancient organisms, in this case, a burrowing crustacean.

Fossil Type:

  • Ichnofossil (Trace Fossil)
  • Ichnogenus: Ophiomorpha
  • Interpreted Originator: Likely a ghost shrimp or similar decapod crustacean
  • Ophiomorpha is characterised by its burrows reinforced with pellet-lined walls, formed by crustaceans dwelling in soft sediments

Geological & Stratigraphic Context:

  • Formation: Reading Beds (part of the Lambeth Group)
  • Stage: Ypresian Stage
  • Epoch: Early Eocene
  • Age: Approx. 56 to 47.8 million years ago
  • Locality: Knowl Hill, Berkshire, UK
  • Depositional Environment: Shallow marine to marginal marine setting such as estuarine or deltaic environments, where crustaceans created reinforced burrow systems in muddy or sandy sediments

Morphological Features:

  • Distinct cylindrical burrow structure, often branching or curving
  • Pelleted or knobbly texture on burrow walls due to sediment pellets placed by the original animal
  • Typically preserved in fine-grained sandstone or clay-rich matrices
  • Represents in-situ behavioural evidence, not a body fossil

Scientific & Collector Significance:

  • Ophiomorpha is an important ichnofossil used in sedimentological and paleoenvironmental reconstructions
  • Helps interpret the behavior and ecology of Eocene crustaceans and the conditions of their habitats
  • Rarely found in such clearly defined form in Reading Beds sediments, making this specimen especially valuable

This specimen is shown in the photos with a 1cm scale cube, and you will receive the exact fossil pictured. It has been carefully selected for the clarity of its trace morphology and geological context.

Authenticity Guaranteed: This is a 100% genuine natural fossil, and includes a Certificate of Authenticity. A superb addition to any collection focused on paleontology, sedimentology, or trace fossil studies.

Please review all images for full details and sizing. A rare opportunity to own a real Ophiomorpha burrow trace fossil from the Early Eocene of southern England.

Additional information

Era

Eocene
Origin

United Kingdom

Eocene Information

The Eocene Period (56–33.9 million years ago) was a time of warm global temperatures and the rapid evolution of mammals following the extinction of the dinosaurs. The climate was hot and humid, with lush rainforests covering much of the planet, even near the poles. Mammals diversified into new ecological roles, with early primates, whales (like Basilosaurus), large herbivores, and carnivores emerging. Birds and reptiles also thrived, and the first grasses began spreading, setting the stage for later grassland ecosystems. By the late Eocene, the Earth’s climate cooled significantly, leading to the formation of the first Antarctic ice sheets and the eventual transition to the drier, cooler Oligocene Period.

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