#Tentaculites fossil

[uk-fossils]

Tentaculites ornatus Fossil Orthocone | Wenlock Limestone Silurian Wrens Nest Dudley UK | Genuine Specimen with COA

Own a unique and scientifically significant Tentaculites ornatus fossil from the Wenlock Limestone Formation, dating to the Wenlockian stage of the Silurian period, found at the world-renowned Wrens Nest site in Dudley, West Midlands, UK. Often mistaken for small orthocone cephalopods due to their tapered shell shape, Tentaculites are now thought to be a separate group of extinct marine organisms with uncertain affinities, possibly related to molluscs or annelids.

Fossil Type: Tentaculitid (extinct marine invertebrate, orthocone-like)

Species: Tentaculites ornatus

Geological Period: Silurian (~443 to 419 million years ago)

Geological Stage: Wenlockian (specifically Wenlock Epoch, ~433 to 427 million years ago)

Formation: Wenlock Limestone Formation

Location: Wrens Nest, Dudley, West Midlands, UK

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

Specimen: The exact item pictured is what you will receive

Authenticity: All of our fossils are 100% genuine specimens and come with a Certificate of Authenticity

Geological and Paleontological Information

Tentaculites ornatus is a small, cone-shaped fossil characterized by its fine transverse ornamentation and radial symmetry. It lived on the seafloor or floated in the water column during the Silurian period. The exact classification of Tentaculitids remains debated, but they are a common component of Silurian marine assemblages, especially in the Wenlock Limestone.

Kingdom: Animalia (uncertain phylum, traditionally placed within Mollusca or Lophophorata)

Class: Tentaculita (extinct)

Order: Tentaculitida

Family: Tentaculitidae

Geological Stage: Wenlockian (mid-Silurian)

Depositional Environment: Shallow, warm marine shelf; low-energy carbonate platform with rich biodiversity, including trilobites, brachiopods, corals, and cephalopods

Morphological Features: Small, conical shell with fine growth lines and ornamented with distinct annulations; typically tapers to a pointed apex with broader apertural end

Notable: Wrens Nest is a globally recognized site of Silurian marine paleontology and was instrumental in the historical development of stratigraphy and paleobiology in the 19th century

Biozone: Likely associated with Wenlockian graptolite and brachiopod biozones (e.g., Cyrtograptus biozones), though precise zonation is layer-dependent

Identifier: Originally described in 19th-century literature; specimens from Dudley are among the best documented in Britain

Why This Fossil is Noteworthy

Although often confused with juvenile orthocones, Tentaculites ornatus represents a distinct and fascinating fossil group. Its presence in the Wenlock Limestone Formation connects it to one of the most fossiliferous and historically significant Silurian deposits in the world.

Why Buy From Us?

100% genuine fossil with Certificate of Authenticity

Exact specimen shown in photo is the one you will receive

Ethically sourced from renowned fossil localities

Suitable for collectors, educators, and natural history enthusiasts

Take home a real piece of the Silurian seas of ancient Britain with this beautifully preserved Tentaculites ornatus fossil from Wrens Nest, Dudley—a unique glimpse into life over 425 million years ago.

[earthstory]

terra_paleontologia

Tentaculites and brachiopods