Large, 9.5" Perisphinctes Ammonite - Jurassic

This is a large, 9.5" wide ammonite (Perisphinctes sp.) 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.

What an ammonite would have looked like while alive.
What an ammonite would have looked like while alive.
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DETAILS
SPECIES
Perisphinctes sp.
LOCATION
Near Sakaraha, Tulear Province, Madagascar
SIZE
9.5" wide, up to 3.5" thick, 10 lbs
ITEM
#51350
GUARANTEE
We guarantee the authenticity of all of our specimens.