#Seaford fossil echinoid

[uk-fossils]

Fossil Flint Echinoid (Shepherd’s Crown) – Cretaceous Chalk, Seaford Head, Sussex UK – British Sea Urchin Fossil with Certificate

This listing features a genuine Fossil Flint Echinoid, often affectionately referred to as a "Shepherd’s Crown", collected from the Cretaceous Chalk deposits of Seaford Head, Sussex, UK. These iconic echinoid fossils are preserved in flint—a result of millions of years of mineral replacement after the creature’s death on the seabed.

The chalk cliffs of Seaford Head are part of the Upper Cretaceous sequence of southern England, dating back approximately 100 to 66 million years ago. The echinoid species, most likely within the genus Conulus or Micraster, were marine invertebrates related to modern sea urchins. Over time, the original calcite skeletons were dissolved and replaced by silica to form the hard flint fossils we find today.

These echinoids are famed for their distinct five-point symmetry and domed shape, often resembling a crown or star. Flint echinoids are a sought-after classic British fossil due to their excellent preservation, high contrast appearance, and regional collectability.

This specimen was discovered by our own team members, Alister and Alison, on 24 March 2025, and has been expertly cleaned, prepped, and treated by Alison for optimal presentation and preservation.

Item Details:

Name: Flint Echinoid (likely Conulus sp.)

Type: Sea Urchin Fossil (Echinoidea)

Common Name: Shepherd’s Crown

Age: Cretaceous Period (~100–66 million years ago)

Geological Formation: Chalk

Location Found: Seaford Head, Sussex, UK

Scale Reference: Scale Rule Squares / Cube = 1cm (please refer to photo for full sizing)

Certificate of Authenticity: Included

ACTUAL AS SEEN:

The image shows the exact specimen you will receive. Each fossil is carefully hand-selected and photographed to ensure quality and transparency.

Please Note:

Some fossils may be propped up for photography.

Colouration may vary slightly under different lighting or screens.

Sizes are approximate due to natural variations in shape.

Once sold, this listing will be updated with a new fossil and image.

100% Genuine – Professionally Prepared – Certificate of Authenticity Included

[uk-fossils]

British Chalk Fossil Echinoid - Echinocorys scutata vulgaris - Cretaceous, Seaford UK

Discover a beautifully preserved British Chalk Fossil Echinoid from the Cretaceous Period, identified as Echinocorys scutata vulgaris. This authentic specimen originates from the Middle Chalk Formation, found in Seaford, Sussex, UK.

This echinoid belongs to the:

Order: Holasteroida

Superfamily: Echinocorythoidea

Family: Echinocorythidae

Geological Age & Formation:

Period: Cretaceous

Stage: Coniacian to Campanian (likely Seaford Chalk Formation age)

Depositional Environment: Shallow marine shelf – calm, warm seas rich in carbonate sediments leading to extensive chalk deposits.

Species Details:

Echinocorys scutata vulgaris is a common chalk echinoid with a thick, ovate test (shell) and highly distinctive symmetrical shape, often likened to a biscuit in form. It was an infaunal detritivore, living partially buried in soft carbonate mud and feeding on organic particles within the sediment.

Morphological Features:

Bilateral symmetry with a slightly domed apex

Distinct ambulacral and interambulacral areas

Well-developed periproct and peristome areas

Test is often robust and shows fine tuberculation (preserved in quality specimens)

Locality: Seaford, East Sussex, England – a classic UK locality for chalk fossils. The Seaford Chalk Formation is part of the White Chalk Subgroup.

Notable Facts:

Often referred to as the "Chalk Heart Urchin"

Found in abundance during the Cretaceous in European chalk seas

Helps in biostratigraphic correlation within the chalk sequences of Europe

Fossil Authenticity and Presentation:

All of our fossils are 100% Genuine Specimens and come with a Certificate of Authenticity. This listing includes photographs of the actual fossil specimen you will receive. The scale in the photo is in 1cm squares (scale cube visible), and full sizing details are included in the images.

This specimen has been carefully selected for its preservation and display quality. A fascinating piece for collectors, educators, or anyone with an interest in palaeontology and British geological heritage.

[uk-fossils]

British Chalk Fossil Echinoid - Echinocorys scutata vulgaris - Cretaceous, Seaford UK

Discover a beautifully preserved British Chalk Fossil Echinoid from the Cretaceous Period, identified as Echinocorys scutata vulgaris. This authentic specimen originates from the Middle Chalk Formation, found in Seaford, Sussex, UK.

This echinoid belongs to the:

Order: Holasteroida

Superfamily: Echinocorythoidea

Family: Echinocorythidae

Geological Age & Formation:

Period: Cretaceous

Stage: Coniacian to Campanian (likely Seaford Chalk Formation age)

Depositional Environment: Shallow marine shelf – calm, warm seas rich in carbonate sediments leading to extensive chalk deposits.

Species Details:

Echinocorys scutata vulgaris is a common chalk echinoid with a thick, ovate test (shell) and highly distinctive symmetrical shape, often likened to a biscuit in form. It was an infaunal detritivore, living partially buried in soft carbonate mud and feeding on organic particles within the sediment.

Morphological Features:

Bilateral symmetry with a slightly domed apex

Distinct ambulacral and interambulacral areas

Well-developed periproct and peristome areas

Test is often robust and shows fine tuberculation (preserved in quality specimens)

Locality: Seaford, East Sussex, England – a classic UK locality for chalk fossils. The Seaford Chalk Formation is part of the White Chalk Subgroup.

Notable Facts:

Often referred to as the "Chalk Heart Urchin"

Found in abundance during the Cretaceous in European chalk seas

Helps in biostratigraphic correlation within the chalk sequences of Europe

Fossil Authenticity and Presentation:

All of our fossils are 100% Genuine Specimens and come with a Certificate of Authenticity. This listing includes photographs of the actual fossil specimen you will receive. The scale in the photo is in 1cm squares (scale cube visible), and full sizing details are included in the images.

This specimen has been carefully selected for its preservation and display quality. A fascinating piece for collectors, educators, or anyone with an interest in palaeontology and British geological heritage.

[uk-fossils]

British Chalk Fossil Echinoid - Echinocorys scutata vulgaris - Cretaceous, Seaford UK

Discover a beautifully preserved British Chalk Fossil Echinoid from the Cretaceous Period, identified as Echinocorys scutata vulgaris. This authentic specimen originates from the Middle Chalk Formation, found in Seaford, Sussex, UK.

This echinoid belongs to the:

Order: Holasteroida

Superfamily: Echinocorythoidea

Family: Echinocorythidae

Geological Age & Formation:

Period: Cretaceous

Stage: Coniacian to Campanian (likely Seaford Chalk Formation age)

Depositional Environment: Shallow marine shelf – calm, warm seas rich in carbonate sediments leading to extensive chalk deposits.

Species Details:

Echinocorys scutata vulgaris is a common chalk echinoid with a thick, ovate test (shell) and highly distinctive symmetrical shape, often likened to a biscuit in form. It was an infaunal detritivore, living partially buried in soft carbonate mud and feeding on organic particles within the sediment.

Morphological Features:

Bilateral symmetry with a slightly domed apex

Distinct ambulacral and interambulacral areas

Well-developed periproct and peristome areas

Test is often robust and shows fine tuberculation (preserved in quality specimens)

Locality: Seaford, East Sussex, England – a classic UK locality for chalk fossils. The Seaford Chalk Formation is part of the White Chalk Subgroup.

Notable Facts:

Often referred to as the "Chalk Heart Urchin"

Found in abundance during the Cretaceous in European chalk seas

Helps in biostratigraphic correlation within the chalk sequences of Europe

Fossil Authenticity and Presentation:

All of our fossils are 100% Genuine Specimens and come with a Certificate of Authenticity. This listing includes photographs of the actual fossil specimen you will receive. The scale in the photo is in 1cm squares (scale cube visible), and full sizing details are included in the images.

This specimen has been carefully selected for its preservation and display quality. A fascinating piece for collectors, educators, or anyone with an interest in palaeontology and British geological heritage.

[uk-fossils]

British Chalk Fossil Echinoid - Echinocorys scutata depressula - Santonian Cretaceous, Broadstairs UK

This listing offers a scientifically significant British Chalk Fossil Echinoid, identified as Echinocorys scutata depressula, collected from Broadstairs, Kent, UK. Dating to the Santonian Stage of the Late Cretaceous, this echinoid is a well-preserved relic of ancient marine life found within England’s Upper Chalk sequences.

Taxonomic Classification:

Order: Holasteroida

Superfamily: Echinocorythoidea

Family: Echinocorythidae

Genus & Species: Echinocorys scutata depressula

Geological Context:

Period: Cretaceous

Stage: Santonian (approx. 86–83 million years ago)

Formation: White Chalk Subgroup (likely part of the Seaford Chalk Formation)

Depositional Environment: Calm, warm epicontinental sea with low-energy conditions that favoured the preservation of delicate marine life in fine carbonate sediments.

Morphological Features:

Flattened (depressed) test shape – the defining feature of the depressula form

Bilateral symmetry, smooth tuberculation, and defined apical system

Distinct periproct and peristome regions with posterior sloping

Infaunal, deposit-feeding lifestyle within soft chalky mud

Scientific Importance:

The depressula morphotype represents a particular ecological adaptation or developmental variation within the broader Echinocorys scutata species group

Its occurrence within specific chalk biozones contributes to detailed stratigraphic and palaeoenvironmental reconstructions of the Late Cretaceous

Locality Information:

Broadstairs, Kent, UK – a notable fossil locality in southeast England, part of the classic White Chalk exposures. The region offers beautifully preserved echinoids, ammonites, and other marine fossils from the Upper Cretaceous.

Presentation & Authenticity:

All of our fossils are 100% Genuine Specimens and are supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity. The images included in this listing show the exact specimen you will receive. Please refer to the photo for full sizing – scale rule cube = 1cm.

This is a hand-picked piece of palaeontological heritage, selected for its clarity of features and preservation quality. Ideal for educational collections, scientific reference, or as a fascinating natural history display.

Own a unique and genuine part of Britain’s ancient seabed – over 80 million years in the making!

[uk-fossils]

British Chalk Fossil Echinoid - Echinocorys scutata tectiformis - Cretaceous, Birling Gap UK

Offered here is a superb example of a British Chalk Fossil Echinoid, specifically Echinocorys scutata tectiformis, from the Middle Chalk Formation of the Cretaceous Period. This particular specimen was found at the iconic fossil locality of Birling Gap, Sussex, UK—a well-known section of the southern chalk cliffs of England.

Taxonomic Classification:

Order: Holasteroida

Superfamily: Echinocorythoidea

Family: Echinocorythidae

Genus & Species: Echinocorys scutata tectiformis

Geological Context:

Period: Cretaceous

Stage: Coniacian to Early Campanian

Formation: Middle Chalk

Depositional Environment: Calm, shallow marine shelf. The chalk was deposited in warm, lime-rich seas during the Late Cretaceous, forming thick beds of pure calcium carbonate with abundant microfossils and echinoids.

Morphological Features:

Sub-pyramidal to tent-shaped test (shell), a distinguishing feature of the tectiformis form

Bilaterally symmetrical with a flattened base and raised apex

Strong development of interambulacral plates with granular tubercles

Marked periproct and peristome regions

Adapted for infaunal life, often partially buried in the chalk mud substrate

Notable & Scientific Significance:

Echinocorys scutata tectiformis is a notable morphotype that reflects ecological adaptations within the Echinocorys lineage.

These echinoids are important for biostratigraphy within the Chalk and are often used to help date layers and interpret depositional conditions.

Locality Details:

Location: Birling Gap, near Eastbourne, Sussex, UK

Stratigraphy: Part of the Seaford Chalk Formation within the White Chalk Subgroup, which is richly fossiliferous and provides excellent preservation of echinoderm fauna.

Presentation & Authenticity:

All of our fossils are 100% Genuine Specimens and come with a Certificate of Authenticity. The listing shows images of the actual fossil you will receive. The scale rule squares / cube = 1cm. Full sizing details can be seen in the accompanying photograph.

This is a hand-selected piece, chosen for its preservation, form, and scientific relevance. Ideal for fossil collectors, chalk enthusiasts, educational displays, or anyone interested in Britain’s geological past.

Bring a piece of the Cretaceous seabed into your collection today!