Description
Ammonite Pair cleoniceras 10.9cm at widest point
This Ammonite pair cleoniceras has been cut in half and polished. This reveals the intricate interior chambers inside some containing gorgeous calcite crystals. The outer shell of these ammonites show flashes of a natural iridescence and also areas revealing wavy suture lines. This ammonite pair cleoniceras dates back to the Cretaceous period, and is approximately 120 million years ago. They come from a remote part of Madagascar, an area deep in the Mahajanga jungle, on the north west coast of the island.
Ammonites have been extinct for 65 million years, and are a form of Cephalopod, a group of marine molluscs. These first appeared in the Devonian Period, over 4oo million years ago. As the ammonite grew larger it added new chambers to the shell, with the Ammonite only living in the newest and largest chamber. The name Ammonite, derives from from ‘Ammon’ the Greek God. Ammonites were plankton feeders, they also had long tentacles, and swam upright. Altogether, there were in the region of ten thousand different species. Ammonites became extinct 65 million years ago. The squid, octopus and also cuttlefish that swim in our seas today however, are closely related.
