Huge, 8.7" Polished Fossil Nautilus With Ammonite - Madagascar

This is a 8.7" fossil Nautilus (Nautilidae) with two small unidentified Ammonites from Ambatalafia, Mahajanga Province, Madagascar. This beautiful specimen has been polished to a glossy finish. This highlights the iridescent qualities of the inner shell. At the narrow part the shell the septa can be seen where the inner and outer shell have been removed. The Ammonites are polished as well and show the iridescence they are known for.

The septa are shell walls that divides the internal area of the shell into compartments. As the animal outgrows the compartment it is living in, it grows new shell and a septs divides the new compartment from the old. These compartments are important in helping the animal maintain balance and position in the water.

Nautilus are "living fossils" in that species similar to this one still exist in our oceans.