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RARE EXTINCT PLIOCENE GASTROPOD FOSSIL WITH INTACT SHELL NACRE - Balchik, NE Bulgaria PLIOCENE PERIOD (SARMATIAN): 6 - 4 million years ago Coming from Pliocene deposits along the Black Sea coastline near Balchik, Bulgaria, this is a VERY RARE gastropod fossil for two reasons: 1) it has a rare feature of intact pearly nacre as seen above, 2) this species is ONLY found in Bulgaria and not in any other world source. This is a AAA grade example of Barbotella intermedia occurring ONLY in this Black Sea region of the world. Intact pearly nacre is highly rare in fossil shells but in this case, it is well preserved and visible. This species has a gorgeous and uniquely ornate shell. The specimen has been cleaned of matrix on the outside and inside to expose the delicate detail of growth lines. This animal is now extinct.This gastropod fossil was privately collected and not from commercial operations. Specimens such as these are never sold to the public so this is an excellent opportunity to add a unique fossil gastropod to your collection from a region of the world that most fossil collectors have no knowledge of nor specimens from. Specimen is AAA grade, completely intact, naturally stark white and with fine whorls and surfaces. Collected near a coastal site situated on a small bay on the Black Sea, 31 km North of Varna, 37 km south-east of Dobrich and 500 km East from Sofia. A must have for all fanciers of exclusive and exotic fossil specimens. Gastropods are a type of mollusks called univalves. They are the largest and most successful class of mollusks and can be found in both underwater (both marine and freshwater) and land environments. Most species have shells, carrying their home with them. While most have coiled shells, some species have non-coiled shells or no shell at all. This shell is made up of lime and is secreted by the animal from a part of their soft bodies called a mantle. Gastropods have bodies that are soft made up of a large flat mucus-covered 'foot' on which the animal slowly glides, and a head with eyes, tentacles and mouth. The mouth includes a lower jaw with tiny rasping teeth. Some gastropods are carnivorous and some are herbivorous. The ones that are carnivorous use these teeth to drill a hole in their victim's shell to allow the gastropod to eat the soft flesh within. The herbivorous types use these teeth to scrape plant matter off of a substrate. Despite the fact that gastropods mate, most are hermaphroditic (having both male and female organs). Gastropods first emerged in the fossil record during the Cambrian Period 545 million years ago. They increased with great diversity during the Carboniferous Period 354 million years ago. During the mass extinction at the end of the Permian Period 251 million years ago most died out but some survived and began to diversify again and survive until today. In many cases, gastropods have become a dominant organism in most of their typical environments. HIGHLY RARE GASTROPOD FOSSIL WITH INTACT PEARLY NACRE THIS SPECIES ONLY FOUND IN BULGARIA! 1.7" long SOLD GA-021 Actual Item - One Only |
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