Tragophylloceras Fossil Ammonite Jurassic Coast Stonebarrow Charmouth Dorset UK

Description

Specimen Overview

This listing presents a genuine Tragophylloceras fossil ammonite recovered from the classic Green Ammonite Beds at Stonebarrow Cliff, near Charmouth and Lyme Regis, Dorset. The specimen has been carefully chosen for its natural preservation, clarity of form, and strong geological context. Preserved within its original matrix, the ammonite displays the elegant coiling and smooth shell form characteristic of Tragophylloceras. The photographs show the exact fossil you will receive, with full sizing details clearly visible. As with all of our fossils, this specimen is 100% genuine and supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity.

Geological Formation & Provenance

The fossil originates from Stonebarrow Cliff, one of the most important exposures along the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its continuous and well-studied Lower Jurassic strata. The Green Ammonite Beds form part of the Lower Lias Group, deposited during the Early Jurassic, approximately 196–193 million years ago. These beds represent marine sediments laid down on a shallow continental shelf, where periodic changes in sedimentation and seawater chemistry produced the distinctive green-grey matrix associated with this horizon.

Fossil Type & Taxonomic Context

Tragophylloceras is an extinct genus of ammonite belonging to the Class Cephalopoda, Subclass Ammonoidea, and Order Ammonitida. Ammonites were free-swimming marine molluscs related to modern squid and cuttlefish and were among the most diverse and abundant predators in Jurassic seas. Tragophylloceras is particularly noted for its relatively smooth shell, gently rounded whorls, and graceful overall form, making it both scientifically informative and visually appealing.

Morphology & Preservation

This specimen displays the characteristic morphology of Tragophylloceras, with clearly defined whorls and a smooth to weakly ornamented shell surface. Growth lines and shell curvature can be observed, offering insight into the animal’s development during life. Preservation within the Green Ammonite Beds matrix has retained the ammonite’s original geological context rather than presenting it as a loose or isolated shell. The fossil remains stable and well-defined, making it suitable for both study and display.

Depositional Environment & Formation

During the Early Jurassic, the region now forming Dorset lay beneath a warm, shallow sea rich in marine life. Ammonites such as Tragophylloceras thrived in these waters, swimming actively in search of prey. After death, shells settled onto the seabed and were buried by fine sediments. Over millions of years, compaction and mineralisation transformed these sediments into limestone and marl, preserving ammonites alongside other classic Jurassic marine fossils.

Scientific & Collecting Significance

Ammonites from Stonebarrow, Charmouth, and Lyme Regis have been collected and studied for over two centuries and played a fundamental role in the development of geological and stratigraphic science. The Green Ammonite Beds are especially well known for producing well-preserved Lower Lias ammonites with reliable provenance. Tragophylloceras is a desirable genus for collectors due to its classic Jurassic form and its association with this iconic fossil horizon.

Display, Care & Authenticity

This fossil is ideal for display in a private collection, educational setting, or natural history cabinet, offering both aesthetic appeal and geological context. The specimen has been carefully cleaned to reveal natural features, with no artificial restoration or reconstruction applied. You will receive the exact fossil shown, accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity, confirming its origin and genuine nature.

A classic and scientifically meaningful ammonite from one of the most famous fossil-bearing horizons on the Jurassic Coast, this Tragophylloceras fossil ammonite from the Green Ammonite Beds of Stonebarrow Cliff represents an authentic piece of Early Jurassic marine history from Dorset, UK.