Description
An impressive and rare 9.5-inch specimen of Zelandites europa, a large fossil ammonite from the Lower Hauterivian Stage of the Early Cretaceous, found at Whale Chine, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom. This ammonite represents a rare and important genus in Lower Cretaceous palaeontology and is part of the respected Alice Purnell Collection. The specimen shown in the photo is the exact one you will receive.
Geological Context:
- Species: Zelandites europa
- Geological Period: Cretaceous
- Stage: Lower Hauterivian (~132.9 – 129.4 million years ago)
- Location: Whale Chine, Isle of Wight, UK
- Depositional Environment: Offshore marine shelf with fine-grained silts and marls typical of the Lower Greensand and Wealden facies, deposited in subtropical seas
Taxonomic Classification:
- Family: Desmoceratidae
- Superfamily: Desmoceratoidea
- Order: Ammonitida
- Suborder: Ammonitina
- Likely formally described by: Spath, 1923 (for the genus and related species)
Morphological Features:
Zelandites europa is a moderately involute, robust-shelled ammonite with smooth to faintly ribbed flanks and a rounded ventral area. The whorls overlap slightly, and the suture pattern is relatively simple. Its large size and shell form suggest a nektonic lifestyle in a relatively stable marine setting. This specimen displays fine preservation of its shell structure and curvature.
Stratigraphic and Scientific Significance:
Zelandites species are significant for biostratigraphy in the Early Cretaceous, particularly within the Lower Hauterivian ammonite zones used to correlate marine deposits across Europe and Austral regions. Their presence at Whale Chine links the Isle of Wight stratigraphy to broader palaeobiogeographic frameworks.
This fossil also reflects the transition from the more ornate Jurassic ammonite lineages to the more streamlined Cretaceous forms adapted to shifting oceanic conditions.
Additional Details:
- All of our Fossils are 100% Genuine Specimens & come with a Certificate of Authenticity.
- Scale Rule Squares / Cube = 1cm: Please refer to the image for full sizing.
- From the scientifically documented Alice Purnell Collection.
This rare large ammonite is ideal for collectors, educational displays, or as a centrepiece in any fossil collection. It offers both aesthetic appeal and palaeontological significance.
Acquire this unique Lower Cretaceous fossil today – a true statement specimen from Britain’s deep-time coastal record.
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