Description
Turrilites scheuchzerianus Ammonite Fossil
This genuine Turrilites scheuchzerianus ammonite fossil is a carefully selected Middle Cenomanian specimen from Southerham Grey Pit, Lewes, East Sussex, UK. Dating to the Upper Cretaceous Period, this fossil represents a distinctive heteromorph ammonite from the warm chalk seas that once covered much of southern Britain.
The fossil shown in the photograph is the actual specimen you will receive. It has been carefully chosen as an individual collectable fossil, making it ideal for ammonite collectors, British fossil enthusiasts, geology students, educational displays, natural history collections, and anyone interested in unusual Cretaceous marine life. Full sizing can be seen in the photo.
Genuine Fossil with Certificate of Authenticity
This fossil is a genuine specimen and includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card. The listing photograph shows the exact fossil supplied, so you can purchase with confidence knowing this is the actual specimen that will be sent.
Ammonites were extinct marine cephalopods related to modern squid, cuttlefish, octopus, and nautilus. While many ammonites had the familiar flat spiral shell, Turrilites belongs to the heteromorph ammonites, a remarkable group that developed unusual shell shapes. Instead of forming a flat coil, Turrilites produced a high-spired, turret-like shell, making it one of the most recognisable ammonites from the Cretaceous Chalk.
Geology and Age
This specimen dates to the Middle Cenomanian stage of the Upper Cretaceous Period, approximately 96 to 94 million years old. The Cenomanian was a time of high sea levels, warm climates, and widespread marine flooding across southern England. During this interval, much of what is now East Sussex lay beneath a shallow tropical to subtropical sea.
Southerham Grey Pit is associated with the Cretaceous chalk and marl deposits of the Lewes area. These sediments formed in a marine environment where fine carbonate-rich mud accumulated on the sea floor. Over millions of years, this material became part of the chalk succession that is so characteristic of southern England. Fossils from these beds preserve evidence of a rich marine ecosystem that included ammonites, nautiloids, echinoids, bivalves, sponges, fish, and other sea-floor organisms.
Species and Scientific Interest
Turrilites scheuchzerianus is a classic Cenomanian heteromorph ammonite and a highly collectable species due to its distinctive spiral tower-like form. It belongs to the order Ammonitida and is associated with the family Turrilitidae, a group of Cretaceous ammonites known for their helically coiled shells.
The species is noted for its tall, screw-like shell shape, with whorls stacked above one another rather than coiled in a flat plane. The shell surface typically shows regular ribs and tubercles, giving the fossil a textured and architectural appearance. These features make Turrilites very different from standard planispiral ammonites and especially desirable for collectors wanting a more unusual ammonite form.
Turrilites scheuchzerianus is also of geological interest because ammonites evolved rapidly and are widely used in biostratigraphy. Cenomanian ammonites help geologists compare and date marine rock layers, making this fossil not only attractive for display but also important as part of the scientific record of Upper Cretaceous sea life.
Southerham Grey Pit, Lewes Locality
This fossil comes from Southerham Grey Pit near Lewes in East Sussex, UK, a notable locality for Cretaceous fossils. The Lewes area is well known for chalk geology and has produced a variety of marine fossils from the Cenomanian and later stages of the Upper Cretaceous.
A Turrilites scheuchzerianus ammonite from Southerham Grey Pit has strong locality interest for collectors of Sussex fossils, chalk fossils, British Cretaceous fossils, and heteromorph ammonites. Locality information adds collectable and educational value because it connects the specimen to a specific place, age, and ancient marine environment.
Display and Collectability
This Turrilites scheuchzerianus ammonite fossil is an excellent addition to a fossil cabinet, educational collection, display shelf, or specialist collection of British Cretaceous fossils. Its Middle Cenomanian age, Southerham Grey Pit provenance, unusual heteromorph shell form, and genuine Certificate of Authenticity make it a desirable specimen for both new and experienced collectors.
With its distinctive turreted shape and connection to the warm chalk seas of the Upper Cretaceous, this fossil is ideal for anyone interested in ammonite evolution, prehistoric marine life, British geology, chalk fossils, or natural history display specimens. Carefully selected and photographed individually, this genuine fossil is supplied exactly as shown, giving you a well-documented specimen for study, display, or collection.
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