These ammonites are quite unusual in coloration, which gives the shell a reflective, metallic sheen and sets off each chamber in high contrast. During fossilization the shell of the ammonite was replaced by an iron compound, probably hematite. The ammonites have been cut in half and polished, revealing the inner detail.
Ammonites were shelled, ocean-dwelling cephalopods. They are more closely related to living octopuses and squid, though their shells resemble that of nautilus species. True ammonites appeared in the fossil record about 240 million years ago during the Triassic Period; most ammonites died out at the same time as the non-avian dinosaurs, at the end of the Cretaceous Period.
Ammonites' diet was probably similar to today's cephalopods, including crustaceans, bivalves and fish. Smaller species likely ate plankton. In turn, they served as prey for larger fish; there is evidence of mosasaurs and ichthyosaurs having eaten them.
Although these photos are representative of the specimen you will receive, the exact specimen may not be identical to the photo.
