Madagascan Ammonite Large

8.5"/21.5cm 

Weight
2.200Kg

Description

One Madagascan Ammonite cut and polished to make two halves.

Fine examples of this type of Ammonite with the internal structure now visible.

Brief Ammonite History

Ammonites, part of the Ammonitida [order], Ammonoidea [sub class], Cephalopoda [class], of marine invertebrates were fascinating and believed to be aggressive creatures, with their extremely large eyes they could easily hunt at night or at great depth where little or no light penetrates the deep oceans. The Cephalopod would grab its prey in their grappling tentacles, prey such as other crustaceans and fish, much as the persisting modern day Nautilus Pompilius [Emperor Nautilus], which swims the Pacific. Off the Great Barrier reef at a depth of between 200-400m sightings of Nautilus were made. Showing the pressures these Cephalopods can attain. The Ammonites extinction was around 74 mya, pre the great mass extinction of around 65 mya, at the end of the Cretaceous Period which ended the rule of the dinosaurs. Ammonites are very important Index Fossils, it is often possible to link the sediment layer in which they are found to specific geological time periods. The largest ammonite found to date was around 2.5m diameter and was found in Germany. Ammonite, Named [by the Greek ancients Ammon], after the Egyptian God deity Amun, with his ram horn ears, similar to the concentrically formed Ammonite shell. Closet modern relatives [subclass Coleoidea], octopus, squid, and cuttlefish.

Genus

Cleoniceras besairei sp.

Geological age

Approximately 112 million years ago, Mesozoic Era, of the Cretaceous Period, Albion/Albian Epoch; Cleoniceras besairiei Zone

Location

Ambatolafia Quarry ,Mahajanga basin, Mahajanga province, North-Western, Madagascar

Image is of one fossil at different views