Mantelliceras Ammonite Fossil

25"/63.5cm diameter

Weight
55Kg

Description

Procheloniceras sp. Ammonite. This large Procheloniceras sp. Ammonite shows Unusually Good form, little distortion through the fossilisation process as can be a feature of large cephalopods of this region.

Brief Ammonite History

ammonites of enormous proportions are found in the Western Anti Atlas of Morocco, The Peninsula of Tamri, Province of Agadir, has been a good source of fossils, however they are now becoming scarce as the valleys that once yielded good quantities to eager collectors have been deluged by flooding post completion of hydro dam constructions in the region. These majestic creatures once abounded in the Jurassic and Cretaceous Oceans of the world, part of the larger group of Ammonoids. The only surviving cephalopod from that era is the Nautili, persisting in the Indian and pacific oceans of today [the Ammonites extinction was around 74 million years ago, prior to a great mass extinction of around 65 mya, at the end of the Cretaceous Period which ended the rule of the dinosaurs]. 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. 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. Closet living relatives subclass Coleoidea [octopus, squid, and cuttlefish].

Genus

Procheloniceras sp. And Mantelliceras sp.

Geological Age

Upper Albian Strata, Cretaceous Period 135-65mya