Fossils for Sale - High-quality BRITISH and WORLDWIDE Fossils. An impressive selection of fossils, including Ammonites, Trilobites, Belemnites, Fossil Fish, Fossil Shark Teeth, Fossilised Insects in Amber, Dinosaurs, and Reptiles. UK Fossils was formed in 1988 and collects and preps our own fossils in the heart of the Jurassic Coast, collecting fossils from Lyme Regis, Charmouth and Somerset. Our passion for fossils is reflected in our carefully curated collection, which includes some of the rarest and most unique specimens available.

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Very Rare Skolekostephanus skolex Ammonite Fossil Bajocian Jurassic Dorset UK Authentic COA

Very Rare Skolekostephanus skolex Ammonite Fossil Bajocian Jurassic Dorset UK Authentic COA

£60.00

Very Rare Skolekostephanus skolex Ammonite Fossil

This listing offers a very rare Skolekostephanus skolex Ammonite Fossil from the Middle Inferior Oolite, Middle Bajocian stage of the Jurassic, collected at Halfway House Quarry, Sherborne, Dorset, United Kingdom. Dating back approximately 170 million years, this ammonite represents a highly sought-after specimen from one of Dorset’s most celebrated fossil localities. Each fossil we offer is guaranteed genuine and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity. The fossil pictured is the exact specimen you will receive, photographed with a 1 cm scale cube for accurate measurement reference.

Geological Context – Inferior Oolite of Dorset

The ammonite originates from the Middle Inferior Oolite, a sequence of marine sediments deposited during the Middle Bajocian stage of the Jurassic period. The Inferior Oolite is world-famous for its rich fossil record, particularly ammonites, and forms part of the extensive geological exposures of Dorset, an area recognised as part of the Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the time these rocks were deposited, the region was a shallow, warm, epicontinental sea, part of the European shelf margin of the Tethys Ocean.

Sedimentation in the Inferior Oolite consisted largely of oolitic limestones, rich in marine invertebrate remains. Fossils from these beds are critical for establishing detailed stratigraphic frameworks, and the ammonites in particular serve as excellent index fossils for the Bajocian. The Halfway House Quarry near Sherborne is a classic locality, producing ammonites of both scientific and collector interest.

Species Overview – Skolekostephanus skolex

This specimen is identified as Skolekostephanus skolex, belonging to the order Ammonitida, superfamily Stephanoceratoidea, and family Stephanoceratidae. Ammonites of this genus are noted for their distinctive shell morphology, with strongly ribbed, evolute whorls that often exhibit pronounced tubercles or nodules at the rib endings. The species skolex is especially recognisable for its bold ornamentation, making it one of the more striking ammonites from the Bajocian faunas.

The shell structure of Skolekostephanus skolex provided both hydrodynamic benefits and mechanical strength, allowing it to thrive as a nektonic predator in Jurassic seas. Its morphology makes it an invaluable marker species within the ammonite biozones of the Middle Bajocian.

Paleontological Importance

Skolekostephanus skolex is of particular importance as an index fossil for the Bajocian. Its restricted stratigraphic range and distinctive features allow geologists to establish precise biozones, which are used to correlate Jurassic strata across Europe and beyond. The Inferior Oolite ammonites, including Skolekostephanus, form the basis of one of the most detailed Jurassic zonal frameworks ever established.

This species also highlights the diversity and evolutionary complexity of the Stephanoceratidae during the Middle Jurassic. Its bold ribbing and tuberculation illustrate adaptive traits that gave these ammonites structural strength and perhaps even protection from predators, reflecting the evolutionary pressures of their time.

Collector’s and Educational Value

This Skolekostephanus skolex ammonite fossil is a rare and exceptional specimen for collectors of British Jurassic fossils. Its provenance from the Sherborne area of Dorset enhances its value, as fossils from Halfway House Quarry are both historically significant and increasingly difficult to obtain. For educators and students, the fossil provides a tangible connection to the Inferior Oolite stratigraphy and the evolutionary history of Jurassic ammonites. Its aesthetic qualities also make it an excellent display specimen.

Guarantee of Authenticity

  • 100% genuine Skolekostephanus skolex ammonite fossil
  • Supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity
  • The exact specimen shown in the photographs will be sent

This is a very rare opportunity to acquire a scientifically significant and beautifully preserved Skolekostephanus skolex Ammonite Fossil from the Middle Bajocian Inferior Oolite of Sherborne, Dorset, United Kingdom, an outstanding piece of Britain’s Jurassic fossil heritage.

(Actual as seen)

Only 1 left in stock

SKU: UF5411 Category:

Description

Very Rare Skolekostephanus skolex Ammonite Fossil

This listing offers a very rare Skolekostephanus skolex Ammonite Fossil from the Middle Inferior Oolite, Middle Bajocian stage of the Jurassic, collected at Halfway House Quarry, Sherborne, Dorset, United Kingdom. Dating back approximately 170 million years, this ammonite represents a highly sought-after specimen from one of Dorset’s most celebrated fossil localities. Each fossil we offer is guaranteed genuine and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity. The fossil pictured is the exact specimen you will receive, photographed with a 1 cm scale cube for accurate measurement reference.

Geological Context – Inferior Oolite of Dorset

The ammonite originates from the Middle Inferior Oolite, a sequence of marine sediments deposited during the Middle Bajocian stage of the Jurassic period. The Inferior Oolite is world-famous for its rich fossil record, particularly ammonites, and forms part of the extensive geological exposures of Dorset, an area recognised as part of the Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the time these rocks were deposited, the region was a shallow, warm, epicontinental sea, part of the European shelf margin of the Tethys Ocean.

Sedimentation in the Inferior Oolite consisted largely of oolitic limestones, rich in marine invertebrate remains. Fossils from these beds are critical for establishing detailed stratigraphic frameworks, and the ammonites in particular serve as excellent index fossils for the Bajocian. The Halfway House Quarry near Sherborne is a classic locality, producing ammonites of both scientific and collector interest.

Species Overview – Skolekostephanus skolex

This specimen is identified as Skolekostephanus skolex, belonging to the order Ammonitida, superfamily Stephanoceratoidea, and family Stephanoceratidae. Ammonites of this genus are noted for their distinctive shell morphology, with strongly ribbed, evolute whorls that often exhibit pronounced tubercles or nodules at the rib endings. The species skolex is especially recognisable for its bold ornamentation, making it one of the more striking ammonites from the Bajocian faunas.

The shell structure of Skolekostephanus skolex provided both hydrodynamic benefits and mechanical strength, allowing it to thrive as a nektonic predator in Jurassic seas. Its morphology makes it an invaluable marker species within the ammonite biozones of the Middle Bajocian.

Paleontological Importance

Skolekostephanus skolex is of particular importance as an index fossil for the Bajocian. Its restricted stratigraphic range and distinctive features allow geologists to establish precise biozones, which are used to correlate Jurassic strata across Europe and beyond. The Inferior Oolite ammonites, including Skolekostephanus, form the basis of one of the most detailed Jurassic zonal frameworks ever established.

This species also highlights the diversity and evolutionary complexity of the Stephanoceratidae during the Middle Jurassic. Its bold ribbing and tuberculation illustrate adaptive traits that gave these ammonites structural strength and perhaps even protection from predators, reflecting the evolutionary pressures of their time.

Collector’s and Educational Value

This Skolekostephanus skolex ammonite fossil is a rare and exceptional specimen for collectors of British Jurassic fossils. Its provenance from the Sherborne area of Dorset enhances its value, as fossils from Halfway House Quarry are both historically significant and increasingly difficult to obtain. For educators and students, the fossil provides a tangible connection to the Inferior Oolite stratigraphy and the evolutionary history of Jurassic ammonites. Its aesthetic qualities also make it an excellent display specimen.

Guarantee of Authenticity

  • 100% genuine Skolekostephanus skolex ammonite fossil
  • Supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity
  • The exact specimen shown in the photographs will be sent

This is a very rare opportunity to acquire a scientifically significant and beautifully preserved Skolekostephanus skolex Ammonite Fossil from the Middle Bajocian Inferior Oolite of Sherborne, Dorset, United Kingdom, an outstanding piece of Britain’s Jurassic fossil heritage.

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