RARE LARGE THREE DIFFERENT SPECIES OF JURASSIC  AMMONITES ON MATRIX

Central High Atlas Mountains, Morocco

MIDDLE JURASSIC PERIOD (LOWER BAJOCIAN):  172 - 168 million years ago

This is an amazing display fossil, perfect to accent any interior decor as much as it would be an unusual and rare addition to any advanced ammonite collection.  Specimens like this are very, very seldom available and collecting efforts are done on a small scale, often yielding a very limited quantity of these rare, uncommon and large ammonite fossils from the region.  A rare opportunity brought about a very fortunate event whereby we were able to secure an exceptional small collection of these beautiful Jurassic ammonite fossils from the Atlas Mountains.  The rarity of these specimens cannot be overstated.  Their completeness and quality of preservation rivals anything seen scientifically from this region.  Not only are these ammonite fossils we are offering from this collection beautiful to look at, they are extremely uncommon and rare to the most advanced collector.  This is the very first time we have offered this kind and quality with future availability being questionable, at best.  

This remarkable triple species ammonite specimen includes large examples on their host rock in full three dimensional form.  All ammonites are wonderfully preserved in a fully inflated form.  The species include from left to right, a large and incredibly well-preserved Emileia bulligera, a Sonninia (Euhoploceras) acanthodes and a Shirbuirnia trigonalis.  The rock matrix elevates them naturally and offers a superb multi-dimensional display that MUST be seen in person to fully grasp and appreciate.  This exceptional fossil ammonite group is far nicer than they appear in the photos.  These species are found together in the Middle Jurassic Bajocian sediments of the Central High Atlas mountains in Morocco.  Each ammonite shows rare preserved shell anatomy and detail as well as full inflation with no distortion.  Perfect to accompany any advanced fossil marine life collection as well as a stunning and highly unique interior design fossil of pure natural history!

Ammonites are extinct members of the Cephalopod class.  Modern members include nautilus, squid and octopus.  They first appeared during the Silurian Period (435 million to 410 million years ago) and were abundant and widespread in the seas of the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods (175 million to 65 million years ago).  Ammonites are important index fossils—that is, they often link the rock layer in which they are found to specific geological time periods.

Ammonites varied greatly in size.  The largest known as small as 2 cm (0.75 in) in diameter.  During the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, ammonites evolved more streamlined shells for swimming and the structure of the shell became stronger.  Different shell shapes emerged as well, such as snail-like or uncoiled.   

The shells of ammonites had hollow chambers separated by walls called septa.  A tube called the siphuncle, connected the body with the chambers allowing the animal to fill them with water or air, changing its buoyancy in order to  rise or drop in the ocean.  Only the last and largest chamber was occupied by the living animal.  

Ammonites probably lived for one to six years, with the majority living two to four years.  They fed on plankton (tiny free-floating organisms), sea lilies, and smaller orthoceras.  Although many fed off the ocean floor, others may have caught plankton while floating or swimming via jet propulsion, expelling water through a funnel-like opening to propel themselves in the opposite direction.

Because ammonites lived exclusively in marine environments, their presence also indicates the location of prehistoric seas.

HIGHLY AESTHETIC DISPLAY SPECIMEN OF THREE RARE SPECIES OF EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY AND PRESERVATION!

11.25" across and 5.5" high overall with matrix, ammonites 5.75" to 4" across

$795     AMX-076     Actual Item - One Only

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