RARE LARGE STEPHANOCERAS JURASSIC AMMONITE ON MATRIX

Central High Atlas Mountains, Morocco

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

This is an amazing decorator display fossil 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 uncommon and large ammonite fossils from the region. The rarity of these specimens cannot be overstated.  Their completeness and quality of preservation EXCEEDS anything seen from this region in professional scientific and museum collections.  Not only are these ammonite fossils we are offering from this collection beautiful to look at, they are extremely uncommon and exceedingly rare to the most advanced collector. 

A rare opportunity brought about a very fortunate one-time event whereby we were able to secure an exceptional and rare small collection of these beautiful Jurassic ammonite fossils from the Atlas Mountains.  These specimens we are part of a limited collection that we will not be able to acquire ever again due to Moroccan fossil laws that have changed since we imported them.  These laws now ban further export from Morocco. 

This remarkable ammonite fossil stands on its host rock base in an artistic manner and at an elevated angle in full three dimensional form.  It is wonderfully preserved in a fully inflated nature.  The species is Stephanoceras and is uncommon for this deposit.  As a matter of fact, this is only one like this that was part of the collection we acquired.  The rock matrix elevates the ammonite in an interesting display and offers a superb multi-dimensional perspective that MUST be seen in person to appreciate.  This exceptional fossil ammonite is far nicer than it appears in the photos.  This species is found in the Middle Jurassic Bajocian sediments of the Central High Atlas mountains in Morocco. 

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 WITH EXTREME VISUAL APPEAL AND DIMENSION!

7.25" high overall, ammonite is 7.2" across

$395     AMX-151     Actual Item - One Only

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