Description
Authentic Tragophylloceras Fossil Ammonite from the Jurassic Coast, Dorset
This stunning Tragophylloceras Fossil Ammonite originates from the famous Green Ammonite Beds of the Lower Lias Formation, found along the Jurassic Coast at Stonebarrow Cliff, Charmouth, Lyme Regis, Dorset, UK. Discovered by our own fossil experts Alister and Alison on 01 November 2025, this specimen has been meticulously cleaned, prepped, and treated by Alison to professional standards. Dating to the Early Jurassic (Sinemurian) Stage, approximately 195–200 million years ago, it captures the fine detail and elegant coiling typical of ammonites from this classic fossil-bearing locality. The fossil’s intricate structure and exceptional preservation make it a superb addition to any collection, representing a genuine piece of Dorset’s natural history.
Geological and Scientific Context
Tragophylloceras is an extinct genus of ammonite belonging to the family Lytoceratidae, within the superfamily Lytoceratoidea and the order Ammonitida. These ammonites thrived in the open marine environments of the Early Jurassic, evolving from earlier ammonite forms that diversified following the end-Triassic extinction event. The Green Ammonite Beds, a part of the Charmouth Mudstone Formation, are world-renowned for producing a rich variety of ammonites, belemnites, and marine reptile fossils.
Formed under low-energy, shallow marine conditions, the fine-grained limestones and mudstones of the Green Ammonite Beds provided ideal conditions for fossil preservation. Sedimentation occurred in calm waters where organic material settled gently onto the seabed, later becoming encased in carbonate-rich layers that protected shells from decay. The distinctive greenish hue of the rock derives from traces of the mineral glauconite, which formed in oxygen-poor conditions, lending the bed its characteristic colour and name.
Morphology and Distinctive Features
Tragophylloceras ammonites are characterised by their gracefully involute shells with smooth, compressed whorls and finely ribbed ornamentation. The suture lines—where internal walls of the shell met the outer wall—form intricate patterns that are often clearly visible in well-preserved specimens such as this one. The genus is known for its delicate, almost leaf-like ribbing, from which it takes its name (from the Greek “tragos” meaning goat and “phyllon” meaning leaf).
The shell of Tragophylloceras typically shows a narrow umbilicus and strongly involute coiling, giving it an elegant and streamlined appearance. These features suggest it was an active, free-swimming cephalopod capable of moving efficiently through the water column, propelled by jet propulsion similar to modern squids. The ribbing and subtle ornamentation would have strengthened the shell against external pressures, while the intricate suture lines provided reinforcement between internal chambers.
The specimen’s smooth shell surface, combined with its gentle curvature, highlights the ammonite’s natural hydrodynamic design—an evolutionary adaptation that allowed it to survive in the open marine environment of the Jurassic seas.
Geological Age and Depositional Environment
This fossil dates from the Sinemurian Stage of the Lower Jurassic, around 197 million years ago. During this time, the region that is now southern England lay beneath a warm, shallow sea teeming with life. The sediments of the Green Ammonite Beds accumulated slowly in these tranquil waters, forming alternating layers of marl, limestone, and shale. The resulting fine-grained sediment preserved delicate shell features in exceptional detail.
The Jurassic Coast, stretching from Exmouth in Devon to Studland Bay in Dorset, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its continuous geological record spanning 185 million years. The Stonebarrow Cliff and Charmouth sections are particularly famous among palaeontologists and collectors for yielding beautifully preserved ammonites such as this Tragophylloceras, which serve as key index fossils for dating Early Jurassic strata.
Preparation and Provenance
This specimen was discovered and prepared by our in-house team, ensuring complete authenticity and professional quality. Alison’s careful cleaning and treatment process reveals the ammonite’s natural detail while preserving its structure for long-term stability. Each fossil we sell is 100% genuine and accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity, confirming its identification, provenance, and geological formation.
Our team’s direct involvement in the discovery and preparation process guarantees that each fossil has a traceable history and has been ethically collected from responsible sites along the Jurassic Coast.
Size and Presentation
Scale cube = 1 cm. Please refer to the listing photographs for full sizing details. The images show the exact specimen you will receive. The fossil sits beautifully within its natural limestone matrix, providing both context and stability. Its subtle colouration, intricate detail, and elegant form make it ideal for collectors, educators, and natural history enthusiasts alike.
A Collector’s Fossil from the Heart of the Jurassic Coast
Fossils of Tragophylloceras from Stonebarrow Cliff, Charmouth, are prized for their scientific importance, rarity, and aesthetic beauty. This specimen embodies the exceptional preservation and geological significance for which the Jurassic Coast is famous, offering a tangible connection to Earth’s distant past and the ancient marine life that once thrived in the Early Jurassic seas.
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