Description
This listing offers a rare and spectacular 9.5-inch fossil Chalk Ammonite, Calycoceras (Newboldiceras) tunetanu, from the Cenomanian Stage of the Cretaceous Period, discovered in Folkestone, Kent, United Kingdom. The photo shows the exact specimen you will receive. Scale rule squares / cube = 1cm — please see image for full sizing and detail.
This ammonite is not only a striking display piece but also a scientifically valuable specimen from the Lower Chalk of southern England, offering insight into Cretaceous marine life and biostratigraphy.
All of our Fossils are 100% Genuine Specimens & come with a Certificate of Authenticity.
Geological & Scientific Information:
- Fossil Type: Ammonite
- Species: Calycoceras (Newboldiceras) tunetanu
- Order: Ammonitida
- Superfamily: Acanthoceratoidea
- Family: Acanthoceratidae
- Geological Stage: Lower to Middle Cenomanian (approx. 100.5 – 95 million years ago)
- Biozone: Typically associated with the Mantelliceras dixoni and Calycoceras guerangeri ammonite zones
- Period: Cretaceous
- Formation: Lower Chalk (locally exposed at Folkestone as part of the Grey Chalk Subgroup)
- Locality: Folkestone, Kent, United Kingdom
- Depositional Environment: Deepening marine shelf; carbonate-rich, low-terrigenous sedimentation characteristic of an epicontinental chalk sea during the early Late Cretaceous
Morphology & Notable Features:
- Large, evolute shell with all whorls clearly visible
- Whorls are ornamented with strong, spaced tuberculate ribs and often ventrolateral tubercles
- Shell features pronounced keel and ornamented growth lines across flanks
- The subgenus Newboldiceras is noted for its prominent ribbing and well-developed ornamentation, making it a favourite among collectors
- Exceptional preservation, typical of chalk matrix fossils from the Folkestone locality
Scientific Significance:
Calycoceras (Newboldiceras) tunetanu is part of the diverse ammonite fauna that characterises the Cenomanian seas of Europe and North Africa. The Acanthoceratidae family shows rapid evolutionary changes, making these ammonites important for biostratigraphic zonation in chalk sequences. This species, with its ornate shell and stratigraphic specificity, is a key marker for correlating Lower and Middle Cenomanian layers.
Originally described based on specimens from Tunisia and southern Europe, this species’ occurrence in the UK highlights faunal connections across the Tethyan and Boreal realms during the mid-Cretaceous.
Ideal For:
- Serious fossil and ammonite collectors
- Cretaceous stratigraphy enthusiasts
- Educational or museum-quality natural history displays
- Researchers studying ammonite morphology and zonal stratigraphy
What You Will Receive:
- The exact Calycoceras (Newboldiceras) tunetanu fossil shown (9.5″)
- Certificate of Authenticity
- Secure and protective packaging for safe shipment
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.