Description
Genuine Witchellia cf. plena Ammonite Fossil from Dorset
This listing is for a genuine Witchellia cf. plena ammonite fossil from the Inferior Oolite Group, collected from Oborne Wood, Dorset, UK. Dating to the Middle Jurassic Period, specifically the Bajocian Stage, this attractive fossil represents a classic British Jurassic ammonite from one of southern England’s well-known oolitic marine successions. The specimen is supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card, making it an excellent choice for fossil collectors, geology enthusiasts, educational collections, display cabinets, and natural history gifts.
Geological Age, Formation and Locality
This ammonite comes from the Inferior Oolite Group, a sequence of Middle Jurassic marine limestones, sandy limestones and oolitic sediments laid down in warm, shallow seas around what is now southern Britain. The specimen is recorded from the Laeviuscula Subzone, within the Bajocian Stage of the Middle Jurassic, approximately 170 million years old.
The locality, Oborne Wood near Sherborne, Dorset, is part of a historically important Jurassic fossil area known for ammonites and other marine fossils preserved within the Inferior Oolite succession. During the Bajocian, this region formed part of a shallow marine environment rich in shelled invertebrates. Ammonites such as Witchellia lived as free-swimming cephalopods, related to modern squid, octopus and cuttlefish, and their coiled shells became preserved after death within the Jurassic seabed sediments.
Fossil Type and Species Information
Witchellia is a genus of ammonite belonging to the order Ammonitida, a major group of extinct marine cephalopods widely used by palaeontologists for dating Jurassic rocks. The “cf.” in Witchellia cf. plena means the specimen compares closely with Witchellia plena, while allowing for a cautious identification where preservation, wear or natural variation may make a fully certain species-level assignment difficult.
Ammonites of this type are valued for their compact, coiled shell form and their importance in Jurassic biostratigraphy. The Laeviuscula Subzone is a useful stratigraphic marker within the Bajocian, and ammonites from this interval help demonstrate the rapid evolutionary changes that make Jurassic ammonites such important guide fossils.
Morphology and Display Features
This specimen shows the characteristic ammonite shell form, with a planispiral coil and visible whorl structure typical of Jurassic ammonites. Witchellia ammonites are generally associated with ribbed ornamentation and a rounded to compressed shell profile, with natural variation depending on growth stage and preservation. The fossil has been selected as a displayable and collectable piece, with its geological context making it especially appealing to anyone interested in British Jurassic ammonites, Inferior Oolite fossils or Dorset palaeontology.
As with many genuine fossils from oolitic limestone deposits, the specimen may show natural matrix, surface texture, mineralisation, small areas of wear, or preparation marks consistent with an authentic fossil from a historic Jurassic locality. These natural features are part of the fossil’s character and help reflect its long geological history.
Authenticity and Collectability
This is a genuine fossil specimen and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card. The fossil shown in the photo is the actual specimen you will receive, making it ideal for buyers who prefer to choose individual, photographed pieces rather than stock images.
Size and Condition
Full sizing can be seen in the photo. Please view the images carefully, as they show the exact fossil, condition, preservation, colour, matrix and overall display quality of the specimen supplied. This carefully chosen Witchellia cf. plena ammonite fossil from Oborne Wood, Dorset is a desirable example of a Middle Jurassic British ammonite and a fine addition to any fossil, geology or natural history collection.
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