Description This listing is for a genuine Astracanthus hybodont shark tooth fossil, discovered in the renowned Faringdon Sponge Gravels, a fossil-rich deposit located at Wicklesham Pit, near Faringdon, Oxfordshire, UK. These gravels are known for containing a unique mix of reworked marine fossils from the Jurassic that were redeposited into Cretaceous (Aptian) sediments. Geological & Stratigraphic Context: Locality: Wicklesham Pit, Faringdon, Oxfordshire, UK Formation: Faringdon Sponge Gravels (reworked) Primary Origin: Jurassic, likely from the Kimmeridge Clay Formation (Late Jurassic) Reworked Into: Lower Cretaceous, Aptian Stage (~125 to 113 million years ago) Depositional Environment: Shallow marine channel lag deposit with high-energy reworking, rich in sponges, echinoids, brachiopods, and vertebrate remains Fossil Type & Species: Type: Fossil Shark Tooth Genus: Astracanthus (a form genus associated with dermal denticles or teeth of hybodont sharks) Order: Hybodontiformes Superfamily: Hybodontoidea Family: Hybodontidae Morphological Features: Tooth form typically features blunt cusps with robust structure, suited for crushing shelled prey (durophagy) Ornamentation may include ridged or striated surfaces, depending on position in the jaw and preservation Characteristic dark brown to black fossil enamel Notable Details: Hybodont sharks were dominant in Mesozoic marine and freshwater ecosystems and represent a now-extinct lineage of elasmobranchs Fossils from the Faringdon Sponge Gravels are particularly valued for their preservation and geological complexity Astracanthus remains are less common than other vertebrate material in these gravels, adding rarity to this piece Biozone: While precise biozonation is complicated due to reworking, the tooth likely originates from the Kimmeridgian or earlier and was re-deposited into Aptian strata Specimen Specifics & Scale: Scale Rule Squares/Cube = 1cm — See listing photo for accurate sizing You will receive the exact specimen shown, hand-picked for quality and completeness Certification & Authenticity: All of our fossils are 100% genuine specimens and come with a Certificate of Authenticity. Ethically sourced and professionally curated, this specimen makes an excellent addition to any fossil or palaeontology collection. A fine opportunity to own a rare Astracanthus Hybodont shark tooth from the famous Faringdon Sponge Gravels, where Jurassic and Cretaceous worlds collide in a single fossil.
