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Two Iridescent Fossil Ammonites (Discoscaphites) - South Dakota
This is a 7" wide section of rock that contains what appears to be two Discoscaphites conradi ammonites, collected from the Fox Hills Formation of South Dakota. These ammonites were expertly prepared before being remounted to the rock in which they were found. There are a couple bonus, partially exposed gastropods within the rock, however they are unidentified.
The bottom of the rock is cut flat for ease of display.
The bottom of the rock is cut flat for ease of display.
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.
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.
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.
SPECIES
Discoscaphites conradi
LOCATION
South Dakota
FORMATION
Fox Hills Formation - Trail City Member - Hoploscaphites nicolletti Zone
SIZE
Ammonites: 2.9" & 1.8" wide, Entire specimen: 7 x 3.3"
CATEGORY
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#209666
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