This Specimen has been sold.
Large, 8.4" Ammonite (Kranosphinctites?) Fossil - Jurassic
This is a large, 8.4" wide ammonite (Kranosphinctites?) fossil collected near Sakaraha in the Tulear Province of Madagascar. It is Jurassic (Oxfordian Stage) in age or approximately 160 million years old. It has a well defined ribbing and it quite heavy. The exterior has been lightly polished and it comes with a 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.
SPECIES
Kranosphinctites?
LOCATION
Near Sakaraha, Tulear Province, Madagascar
SIZE
8.4" wide, up to 3.1" thick, 7 lbs
CATEGORY
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#51687
We guarantee the authenticity of all of our specimens.