Richard Fortey Collection

Archaeopteris hibernica, fossil plant
A fern-like plant, beautifully preserved in yellow sandstone from the Devonian, Kilkenny, Ireland. Specimen is 25 cms long

Pentrimites robustus, blastoid
Side view of a specimen from the Carboniferous (Mississipian), Illinois, USA - length 4 cm. Blastoids are extinct marine invertabrates belonging to the Phylum Echinodermata

Tylocidaris clavigera, sea urchin
A fossil echinoid (Tylocidaris clavigera) from the Cretaceous rocks of Gravesend, England

Stigmaria ficoides, fossil root
This root is preserved in tough Carboniferous sandstone. Stigmaria is the name given to roots of the giant lycopod (prehistoric spore-bearing plant) Lepidodendron

Hydnoceras tuberosum, fossil glass sponge
A vase-shaped, fossil glass (silaceous skeleton) sponge from the Devonian of New York

Coeloptychium agaricoides, fossil sponge
This hexactinellid (six rayed spiculed) sponge originates from the Cretaceous of Westphalia, Germany. It has a maximum diameter 8 cm. Sponges are filter feeders and live on plankton

Nilssonia kendalli, frond of a cycad
A preserved frond of the cycad Nilssonia kendalli, from Yorkshire, England

Aviculopecten planoradiatus, bivalve
Fossilised relics of this fan-shaped bivalve. Bivalves are shelled creatures and first appeared in the middle Cambrian, some 520 million years ago, they are still common in todays oceans

Uintacrinus, stemless crinoid
A black and white photograph of a stemless crinoid, which dates from the Cretaceous. Crinoids have five or more feathery arms radiating from a central disc

Promicroceras planicost, jurassic ammonites
A rock specimen containing many Promicroceras a small shelled Jurassic ammonites. Ammonites are an extinct group of marine fossil cephalopods related to todays Nautilus

Ceratites nodosus, ammonoid
The Ammonoids are an extinct group of marine fossil cephalopods related to todays Nautilus. In this specimen, the shell suture lines are clearly visible

Palaeontology Response Card
The Palaeontology response card that was used in the Natural History Museum during the 1960s. Enquirers who had send in bones of sheep or horses thinking that they were fossils

Fossilised Eocene crab
Unidentified fossilised specimen of an Eocene crab found in Southern England, France and the USA. This specimen is 58 million years old

Wanneria walcottana, trilobite

Rana species, fossil frog
Specimen originates from soft Miocene shale from Spain. Skeletal anatomy preserved in its entirety with an outline of the soft parts clearly visible. This specimen measures 12 cms long

Pemmatites, lithistid sponge
This sponge originates from the Permian rocks of the Artic island of Spitzbergen

Lingula beani, brachiopod
This Jurassic lingulid brachiopod from Yorkshire is a tongue shaped brachiopod, and is composed of calcium phosphate with a shiny lustre which contrasts here with the clay matrix

Lycoptera, bony fish fossil
Fossil of a bony fish found in jurassic China, 206-142 million years ago

Acidaspis coronata, spiny trilobite
A spiny odontopleurid Silurian trilobite from Worcestershire, England preserved in limestone. The specimen length is 2.5 cms

Onychiopis mantelli, fossil fern
This fossil fern originates from Sussex, England

Kosmoceras acutistriatum, ammonite
This Jurassic ammonite from Wiltshire, England occurs in a fine-grained shale, but has been severely flattened. However, the original lustre of the shell has been retained

Dizgocrinus mon, fossil crinoid
This fossil crinoid or sea-lily originates from the limestones of Keokuk, Lowa, USA

Andradite is variety dementoid, garnet and comprises of (calcium iron silicate). These crystals are in a matrix from Lanzada, Valtellina, Italy and the cut stone is from an unknown locality

Didymograptus murchisoni, graptolite
This is an Ordovician tuning-fork shaped graptolite from Wales. Graptolites are an extict group of marine, colonial animals

Cymatophlebia longialata, fossil dragonfly

Fossilised Tellinella rostralis, tellin bivalve
Fossilised specimen of a Tellin bivalve from Ecocene Belgium, 58 million years ago. Bivalves are hinged molluscs which first appeared in the Middle Cambrian some 500 million years ago

Symmetrocapulus, limpet
Fossilised specimen of a limpet found in the Jurassic limestone of Les Moutiers en Cinglais, France. 206-142 million years old

Glossopteris linearis, fossil leaves
Fossil leaves which lived as a deciduous bushy plant, preserved on a bedding plane of Permian siltstone (Old Agfa film - not possible to duplicate)

Angelina, stretched trilobite
Angelina grew up to a length of 6cm. The thorax was made up of 15 segements with spines. Trilobites were arthropods and had exoskeletons as crustaceans, spiders and insects do today

Acroceolites subtenius, belemnites
A fine group of belemnites (Acroceolites subtenius) preserved in soft Jurassic shale from Yorkshire. Longest specimen is 9cm long

Busycon contrarium, lightening whelk
Fossilised specimen of the Pilocene gastropod, originating from Florida, USA, 5 million years ago. The lightening whelk has a long siphonal canal

Sigillaria laevigata, fossil lycopod bark
This carboniferous fossilised lycopod (prehistoric spore-bearing plants) bark specimen is 9 cm long

Halysites escharoides, tabulate coral
In this Silurian tabulate coral from Ohio Falls, USA, large numbers of tiny oval corallites are linked together to form chains

Voluta muricina, gastropod
Specimen of the large marine gastropod Voluta muricana. It has a ornate, spiralling shell with a large aperture

Architectonica sp. sundial shell
Fossilised specimen of a sundial shell found in Orciano, Italy

Cheiracanthus murchisoni, fossil fish
This is an early jawed acanthodian fish from the Devonian rocks of Banffshire Scotland. Length 5 cms

Annularia sphenophylloid, fossil horsetail
This specimen is more commonly known as fossil horsetail. The leaves of this fossil plant form rosette-like shapes

Acer trilobatum, miocene maple seeds
Miocene maple seeds originating from an Acer trilobatum

Calymene blumenbachii, trilobite
A well-known convex Silurian trilobite originating from Worcestershire, England. Trilobites were arthropods as crustaceans, spiders and insects are today

Scabrotrigonia thoracica, bivalve
This horny-ribbed bivalve dates from the late Cretaceous period (142 million years ago), they are still common in todays seas and oceans

Typhis pungens, gastropod

Bothriolepis canadensis, armoured fossil fish
This specimen is an amoured Devonian fish originating from Quebec

Stylina alveolata, reef coral
A reef building coral originating from Jurassic limestones in Europe, eastwards into Asia Minor, and also in the U.S.A

Hemicidaris intermedi, Jurassic sea urchin
This specimen is particularly well-preserved retaining its spines where they fell around the animal as it died

Cyathophyllum sp. rugose coral
Shown here is a section through a well preserved Devonian solitary, rugose coral from Devon, England. The maximum diameter is 6 cm

Plegiocidaris coronata, sea urchin
A fossil echinoid or sea-urchin from the Jurassic rocks of Ulm, Germany

Nummulites gizehensis, giant foraminiferan
Shown here is a giant foraminiferan originating from the Eocene of Egypt. Foraminifera are amoeba-like, single-celled protistids and can still be found in abundance today

Spirifer striatus, brachiopod
Shown here is a wide-hinged brachiopod. Brachiopods belong to their own phylum (Brachiopoda). General characteristics include a pair of protective shells

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

Richard Fortey, a renowned paleontologist, has dedicated his life to unraveling the mysteries of Earth's ancient past. With each fossil discovery, he unveils a chapter in the story of our planet's evolution. One such remarkable find is Archaeopteris hibernica, a fossil plant that provides insight into prehistoric forests. Its delicate leaves and intricate branching patterns transport us back to an era when lush greenery dominated the landscape. In his exploration of marine life, Fortey uncovered Pentrimites robustus, a blastoid species that thrived in ancient oceans. These fascinating organisms with their unique body structures offer glimpses into the diversity and complexity of underwater ecosystems long gone. Amongst his discoveries lies Tylocidaris clavigera, an exquisite sea urchin fossil. This perfectly preserved specimen allows us to marvel at its intricate spines and imagine it gracefully navigating through primordial seas. Fortey also unearthed Stigmaria ficoides, a fossil root that reveals secrets about terrestrial flora from millions of years ago. Its detailed structure offers clues about how plants adapted to different environments throughout history. Delving deeper into the depths of time, Fortey discovered Hydnoceras tuberosum - a captivating glass sponge fossil. This delicate creature once flourished in ancient oceans and now serves as a testament to the incredible biodiversity that existed eons ago. Another intriguing find by Fortey is Coeloptychium agaricoides - an enigmatic sponge species frozen in time within rock formations. Its intricate skeletal remains provide valuable insights into the evolution and ecology of these mysterious creatures. Nilssonia kendalli adds another layer to Fortey's findings with its frond-like appearance resembling modern-day cycads. This well-preserved relic takes us on a journey through prehistoric landscapes where these majestic plants reigned supreme. Aviculopecten planoradiatus showcases yet another facet of Earth's ancient history.