Barroisiceras Texasia Ammonite Fossil Cretaceous Santonian France Genuine COA rivierae Rare Collector Specimen Certificate

Genuine Barroisiceras (Texasia) rivierae Ammonite Fossil from France This listing is for a genuine Barroisiceras (Texasia) rivierae ammonite fossil from the Upper Cretaceous, Lower Santonian, couezi Zone deposits of Aude, Occitanie, France. This is a carefully chosen fossil specimen, selected for its natural prehistoric interest, named species identification, European locality, and attractive display appeal. The photograph shows the actual fossil you will receive, allowing you to view the individual shape, preservation, colour, texture, and natural character of the specimen before purchase. This fossil includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card, confirming that it is a genuine fossil specimen and not a modern replica. Full sizing information can be seen in the listing photograph. Fossil Type and Species Barroisiceras (Texasia) rivierae is an ammonite, an extinct marine cephalopod that lived during the Late Cretaceous Period. Ammonites were related to modern squid, cuttlefish, octopus, and nautilus, and are among the most recognisable fossils found in marine sedimentary rocks. Their coiled shells, chambered internal structure, and rapid evolution make them especially important to fossil collectors, educators, and geologists. This specimen belongs to the ammonoid order Ammonitida and is associated with the family Barroisiceratidae, a group of Late Cretaceous ammonites known for distinctive shell forms and importance in Cretaceous marine faunas. The name Barroisiceras (Texasia) rivierae indicates a named species within the Texasia subgroup, giving this fossil stronger scientific and collector interest than a general unidentified ammonite. Geological Age, Stage and Zone This fossil dates from the Lower Santonian stage of the Upper Cretaceous, making it approximately 84 to 86 million years old. The Santonian was a time of warm global climates and widespread marine conditions, with high sea levels creating broad shallow seas across many parts of Europe. These marine environments supported diverse ecosystems including ammonites, bivalves, gastropods, echinoids, fish, sharks, and marine reptiles. The specimen is recorded from the couezi Zone, an important biostratigraphic interval within the Lower Santonian. Ammonite zones are especially valuable in geology because ammonites evolved quickly and were widely distributed, allowing palaeontologists to compare and date rock layers from different regions. A fossil with a known zone has added geological interest, particularly for collectors who appreciate stratigraphically well-constrained specimens. Locality and Depositional Environment The fossil comes from Aude in Occitanie, southern France, a region with important Cretaceous sedimentary rocks. During the Santonian, this area formed part of a marine setting influenced by warm seas, carbonate sedimentation, and changing coastal to shelf environments. Ammonites such as Barroisiceras lived in these ancient waters, and after death their shells settled onto the sea floor, where they were gradually buried by sediment and preserved through fossilisation. Fossils from French Cretaceous deposits are highly collectable because they represent classic European marine faunas from a key interval of Late Cretaceous history. This ammonite offers a direct connection to the ancient seas that once covered parts of what is now southern France. Morphology and Natural Features Ammonites such as Barroisiceras (Texasia) rivierae had a planispiral shell, meaning the shell coiled in a flat spiral. The shell was divided into internal chambers, with the living animal occupying the final outer chamber. Earlier chambers helped regulate buoyancy, allowing the ammonite to move through the water column. Depending on preservation, Barroisiceras ammonites may show whorl shape, ribbing, shell curvature, growth lines, tuberculation, suture detail, and natural surface texture. These features are highly desirable to collectors because they record the shell architecture and growth pattern of an individual prehistoric animal. The combination of named species, Santonian age, and French locality makes this a particularly interesting fossil for both display and study. Authenticity and Collector Appeal You will receive the actual Barroisiceras (Texasia) rivierae ammonite fossil shown in the photograph, not a stock image or random example. Please see the photo for full sizing and visual condition. This genuine fossil is supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card, making it ideal for collectors of Cretaceous ammonites, French fossils, European marine fossils, named fossil species, natural history specimens, and genuine fossils with certificates. Its Lower Santonian age, couezi Zone provenance, and attractive ammonite form make it a strong addition to a fossil cabinet, educational geology collection, classroom display, or natural history collection.