This Specimen has been sold.
3.75" Red, Iridescent Hoploscaphites Ammonite Fossil - Montana
This is a bumpy, 3.75" Hoploscaphities ammonite specimen collected from the Pierre Shale of Montana. The ammonite is excellent condition, considering the difficulty (and time required) to remove it from the rock. The shell has a red iridescence that enhances the natural texture. An exquisite specimen!
It comes with an acrylic display stand.
It comes with an acrylic display stand.
About Ammonites
Ammonites were ancient marine cephalopods, similar to today's squids and octopuses, but with a defining feature: their distinctive, tightly coiled spiral shells. These shells, resembling those of modern nautiluses, served as both a protective home and a buoyancy aid, allowing ammonites to navigate the prehistoric seas with ease. First emerging around 240 million years ago in the Triassic Period, ammonites thrived for over 175 million years, adapting through numerous forms and sizes. As predatory creatures, they likely fed on smaller marine organisms, using their tentacles to capture prey. However, their long reign came to an end 65 million years ago at the close of the Cretaceous, coinciding with the mass extinction event that also eliminated the dinosaurs.
Ammonites were ancient marine cephalopods, similar to today's squids and octopuses, but with a defining feature: their distinctive, tightly coiled spiral shells. These shells, resembling those of modern nautiluses, served as both a protective home and a buoyancy aid, allowing ammonites to navigate the prehistoric seas with ease. First emerging around 240 million years ago in the Triassic Period, ammonites thrived for over 175 million years, adapting through numerous forms and sizes. As predatory creatures, they likely fed on smaller marine organisms, using their tentacles to capture prey. However, their long reign came to an end 65 million years ago at the close of the Cretaceous, coinciding with the mass extinction event that also eliminated the dinosaurs.
These 70 million year old ammonites lived when South Dakota was a shallow inland sea. They were found preserved in concretions when split open. They then had to be hand-prepared to remove the hard rock surrounding them from their shells, a very time consuming task.
SPECIES
Hoploscaphities plenus
LOCATION
Garfield County, Montana
FORMATION
Pierre Shale - Baculites cf. eliasi Zone
SIZE
Ammonite: 3.75" wide
CATEGORY
ITEM
#209664
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