Description
This is a Fossil Dactylioceras Ammonite Cephalopod. It is from the Jurassic Period of Germany.
This spiral animal comes from an area no longer accessible. They come from Schlaifhausen in the area of Erlangen near Nurnberg.
A wonderful example of this Fossil Dactylioceras Ammonite Cephalopod. Ammonites were marine creatures that lived in a hard shell. They were cephalopods related to octopus and Squid. But these creatures retained their hard shell. Because of the erosion and weathering of the earth surfaces these can be readily found. But some rock breaking is necessary. Normally when found some shell material remains along with the color. The matrix is often very hard to prepare.
This piece is from an upper Jurassic marine formation. And the Posidonian Slate formation is well known for its ammonite fossils. But this area is not accessible any longer. Much of the area in Germany was part of a shallow ocean Seaway. This was a sea that stretched out across much of Europe. So this area was full of marine creatures including fish and others. These Fossil Dactylioceras Ammonite Cephalopod grew to large sizes but even the small ones have great detail.
The Fossil Dactylioceras Ammonite is related to the modern day octopus but then they had a hard external shell. However the octopus of today has lost their shells. The Ammonite also had tentacles with which it captured it’s food. But they are some of the most recognizable fossils in the world.
This block is 2 inches long by 1 3/4 inches high and sits nicely on a flat surface.
