GA047 - PRISTINE JUVENILE FOSSIL PLIOCENE FOSSIL HORSE CONCH SEA SNAIL SHELL

Product Description

ITEM # 

GA047

ID

Triplofusus giganteus

FOUND

Okeechobee County - Florida, USA

AGE

PLIOCENE:  5 - 1.8 million years ago

SIZE

6.5" long

CONDITION

NO REPAIR OR RESTORATION

NOTE

STUNNING PREHISTORIC FOSSIL SPECIMEN
FILLED WITH ORIGINAL SHELL PIT MATRIX

INCLUDES STAND - Actual Item - One Only

Comes with a certificate of authenticity / information sheet

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT GASTROPODS

Known for its splendid array of gastropod fossils, Florida is home to many fossil shell species in abundance.  The nature of finding a gastropod fossil in a shell pit, for example, usually means that it will be heavily weathered and seriously damaged.  Certainly, delicate features of the shell are almost always missing.  What is most unique and exciting about this fossil specimen of Triplofusus giganteus is that all the anatomy is still intact and well-preserved.  This is an uncommon fossil JUVENILE specimen of this giant sea snail.  The pointed centrum is complete and overall surface detail is still present and wonderfully visible.  Do not confuse this genuine fossil with inexpensive MODERN shells available in shell shops from this species.   The interior is still filled with the original fossil shell matrix of the pit from which it was collected.  This complete and very high-grade specimen came from a gigantic sea snail that lived 5 million years ago, crawling around the ocean floor when the massive Megalodon shark still terrorized the warm waters off the southeastern Atlantic coast of prehistoric North America.  This remarkable gastropod fossil is recommended for its immense size and display appeal.  Guaranteed NO REPAIR and NO RESTORATION. 

Triplofusus, otherwise known as the "Horse Conch", is  the official Florida state shell.  This massive gastropod is still alive today and can grow to a total overall living length of 24 inches!  This species is a voracious carnivore common on both coasts of Florida from the shoreline down to a depth of about 100 feet.  Although the shell is found throughout the southeast United States, in Texas, and northeast Mexico, it is much more common in Florida waters.  In prehistoric times during the Pliocene Period, the imposing Triplofusus giganteus roamed the ocean floor searching for its primary victim, bivalves.  This conch feeds by attaching itself to its prey with its foot and slowly rasping a hole in the shell of its unfortunate victim.  Triplofusus giganteus can move great distances and can go against tidal currents with the use of its powerful foot.