16.5" Huge Jurassic Ammonite (Kranosphinctes) Fossil - Madagascar

This is a huge 16.5" wide ammonite (Kranosphinctes) fossil from Madagascar. It is Late Jurassic in age and it was collected near Sakaraha in the Tulear Province of Madagascar. It's a real beast, weighing in at over 57 lbs. The non-display side has some significant areas of restoration which is reflected in the price.

A metal display stand will accompany your purchase.

About Ammonites

Ammonites were predatory, marine mollusks that thrived during the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras, particularly in the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, before going extinct around 66 million years ago. These creatures are characterized by their coiled, spiral shells, which resemble the modern-day nautilus. Ammonite shells were divided into chambers; as they grew, they built new chambers and sealed off the old ones. These chambers were filled with gas, which helped them control buoyancy in the ocean.

The outer shell of ammonites often displays intricate ribbed or ridged patterns and their fossils sometimes show a wide range of beautiful colors due to mineralization over time. The shells fossilized well, making ammonites abundant in the fossil record.. In addition to being popular in fossil collections, ammonites are valuable in geological studies, as they serve as index fossils, helping scientists date rock layers and understand the Earth's prehistoric environments.

Artist's reconstruction of an ammonite,  by Nobu Tamura
Artist's reconstruction of an ammonite, by Nobu Tamura
FOR SALE
$1,450 $1,305
DETAILS
SPECIES
Kranosphinctes sp.?
LOCATION
Near Sakaraha, Tulear Province, Madagascar
SIZE
16.5" wide, 57 lbs
ITEM
#279776
GUARANTEE
We guarantee the authenticity of all of our specimens.