Description
Huge 7.5 Inch Phylloceras heterophyllum Ammonite Fossil
This listing is for a genuine 7.5 inch Huge Phylloceras heterophyllum ammonite fossil from the Whitby Mudstone Formation, Lower Jurassic, Toarcian, Whitby, North Yorkshire, UK. This impressive fossil has been carefully chosen for its size, display presence, classic Jurassic age, and strong collecting appeal. The photograph shows the actual specimen you will receive, so please refer to the image for full sizing, shape, preservation, matrix detail, colour, and overall appearance.
Large ammonites from the Whitby coast are highly sought after by fossil collectors due to their iconic British Jurassic origin, historic collecting locality, and attractive natural preservation. This specimen represents a well-known ammonite species from one of the most famous fossil-bearing coastlines in the United Kingdom.
Fossil Species and Classification
Phylloceras heterophyllum is an ammonite species belonging to an ancient group of extinct marine cephalopods. Ammonites were related to modern squid, cuttlefish, octopus, and nautilus, although they lived inside coiled shells divided into internal chambers. These chambers helped the animal control buoyancy as it moved through the Jurassic seas.
Phylloceras is recognised for its elegant shell form and fine ribbing or growth-line detail, depending on preservation. The genus is part of the order Phylloceratida, a group known for smooth to finely ornamented shells and complex suture patterns. The species name heterophyllum refers to the distinctive leaf-like complexity associated with the sutures in this group, a notable feature that makes phylloceratid ammonites especially interesting to collectors and students of palaeontology.
Geological Age and Formation
This fossil comes from the Whitby Mudstone Formation, dating to the Lower Jurassic, Toarcian Stage. The Toarcian is an important interval of Jurassic time, approximately 183 to 174 million years old. During this period, the area now known as Whitby, North Yorkshire, was covered by a warm marine environment rich in ammonites, marine reptiles, fish, bivalves, belemnites, and other sea life.
The Whitby Mudstone Formation is famous for its dark shales, mudstones, and fossiliferous horizons. These sediments were deposited on the floor of an ancient sea, where fine mud accumulated slowly and helped preserve the remains of marine organisms. Ammonites from this formation are among the most recognisable British fossils and have been collected, studied, and admired for generations.
Whitby, North Yorkshire Locality
Whitby is one of the most historic fossil locations in the UK, known worldwide for its Jurassic ammonites and classic coastal geology. The cliffs and foreshore around Whitby expose layers of Lower Jurassic rock, making the area a celebrated destination for fossil collectors, geology enthusiasts, museums, and natural history researchers.
Fossils from this region are popular because they combine scientific interest with strong display appeal. The locality has a long association with ammonite collecting, and Whitby ammonites are often considered classic examples of British Jurassic palaeontology. A large Phylloceras heterophyllum from this area is an excellent addition to a collection focused on UK fossils, Jurassic marine life, ammonites, or historic coastal geology.
Morphology and Display Features
This 7.5 inch ammonite offers an impressive size for display, with the coiled shell form showing the characteristic symmetry and natural geometry that make ammonites so desirable. The shell preserves the planispiral shape typical of ammonites, where the whorls coil neatly around a central point. Depending on the angle and lighting, the specimen may show natural surface texture, shell contour, subtle ribbing, growth lines, mineral colouration, matrix contact, or areas of preserved detail.
As a genuine fossil specimen, natural features may include small cracks, repaired-looking natural lines, weathered edges, matrix marks, mineral staining, surface variation, or areas of partial preservation. These are normal characteristics of authentic Jurassic fossils and form part of the individual identity of the specimen.
Collecting, Display and Gift Appeal
This Huge Phylloceras heterophyllum ammonite fossil is ideal for a fossil cabinet, display shelf, office, study, natural history collection, geology classroom, museum-style display, or collector’s showcase. Its large size, British Jurassic locality, and classic ammonite form give it excellent visual impact.
It would make a thoughtful gift for fossil collectors, ammonite enthusiasts, geology students, teachers, natural history fans, coastal fossil hunters, or anyone interested in prehistoric marine life. The specimen is especially suitable for collectors looking for Whitby fossils, Lower Jurassic ammonites, British fossils, Toarcian marine fossils, or large display-quality ammonite specimens.
Authenticity and Certificate
This fossil is a genuine specimen and includes a fully hand-signed Premium Certificate of Authenticity. The certificate provides clear reassurance that the item supplied is an authentic fossil specimen selected for collecting, study, display, and gifting.
The photograph shows the actual 7.5 inch Phylloceras heterophyllum ammonite fossil you will receive. Please view the photo carefully for full sizing, preservation, colour, fossil detail, natural features, and overall display character.
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