Giant Cretaceous belemnite Acroteuthis lateralis UK

[TqB]

I'm planning to start a belemnite thread but thought this one deserved a separate post!

 

Just acquired from an old collection, it's Acroteuthis lateralis (Phillips), lower Cretaceous, Berriasian, almost certainly from near the base of the Speeton Clay, Yorkshire coast, UK. (It wasn't actually labelled but this is the only feasible UK location and it has the right preservation. It does occur in other countries e.g. Russia). 

 

I've visited the locality a few times but this species has been elusive - the beds in which it occurs need a storm scour to expose them.

 

17cm/6.7" long, 6cm at widest point.

 

 

Dorsal

 

Ventral - it doesn't have a true furrow, this is a pseudo-furrow caused by weathering along the flat ventral face. In situ specimens are typically a bit rolled and weathered like this.

 

Lateral, showing the pronounced vertical compression relative to the horizontal width.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Congrats on the new acquisition! .

That's a real beauty, Tarquin. 

[Fossildude19]

What a monster!  

Nice acquisition! 

[Bobby Rico]

That’s a sea monster alright. Nice 

[Manticocerasman]

that's a big belemnite

 

[TqB]

3 hours ago, Tidgy's Dad said:

Congrats on the new acquisition! .

That's a real beauty, Tarquin. 

Thanks, Adam! Bet I find my own now next time I go there...

 

2 hours ago, Fossildude19 said:

What a monster!  

Nice acquisition! 

Thanks, Tim - it fills what had been a prominent hole in the collection!

 

2 hours ago, Bobby Rico said:

That’s a sea monster alright. Nice 

Thanks, Bobby. It must have been a chunky squid. 

 

18 minutes ago, Manticocerasman said:

that's a big belemnite

 

Not the only reason I bought it but hard to resist. 

[Tidgy's Dad]

2 minutes ago, TqB said:

Thanks, Adam! Bet I find my own now next time I go there...

For sure, that's often the way of it. 

[ynot]

Sweet acquisition!

[TqB]

11 hours ago, ynot said:

Sweet acquisition!

Thank you!

[siteseer]

Is that a belemnite or an artillery shell?

[TqB]

1 hour ago, siteseer said:

Is that a belemnite or an artillery shell?

Definitely a belemnite with artillery shell proportions.

[ricardo]

On 26/03/2019 at 10:03 AM, TqB said:

Definitely a belemnite with artillery shell proportions.

 

And this one must be 6.35 ammunition 

 

 

Great Specimen you have there! Congratulations!

 

Ricardo

[TqB]

31 minutes ago, ricardo said:

 

And this one must be 6.35 ammunition 

 

Great Specimen you have there! Congratulations!

 

Ricardo

Thanks, Ricardo!