Description
Hematite Ammonite.
A polished half ammonite presented in a clear display case with information card.
From Morocco
Approx Size: 30- 35mm
Display case Size: 55mm x 80mm x 11mm
About Ammonites
Ammonites are extinct marine molluscs related to living coleoids like octopuses, squid and cuttlefish.
Ammonites appeared during the Devonian and are excellent index fossil, linking the rock layer in which it is found to specific geologic time periods. The name “ammonite” was inspired by the spiral shape of their fossilized shells which resemble coiled rams’ horns.
Pliny the Elder called Ammonites ‘ammonis cornua’ (“horns of Ammon”) because the Egyptian god Ammon was typically depicted wearing rams’ horns. Often, the name of an ammonite genus ends in -ceras, which is from κέρας (kéras) meaning “horn”.
The earliest ammonites appeared during the Devonian, with the last species vanishing during the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event. Their fossil shells usually take the form of planispirals, although some helically spiraled and nonspiraled forms (known as heteromorphs) have been found.
