Item Number
2081
Type
image
Description
Ammonite in matrix
Size
19.5
Age
~ Mesozoic, Cretaceous
Status
in inventory
Display/Storage
Display
Building
Zuhl Museum
Original Site
Morocco
Date Acquired
2014
Gallery/Room\Floor
History of Life Gallery
Notes
This ammonite fossil is a great example of a heteromorph ammonite. Heteromorph ammonites have uncoiled shells. Ammonites, related to the modern-day nautilus, are from a group of extinct marine mollusks in the subclass Ammonoidea. These predatory sea creatures maintained a diet of shrimp, starfish, and other small marine animals. In modern times ammonite fossils are used as index fossils because of their wide geographic distribution, well-defined period of existence in Earth’s history, and their ability to be easily identified at the species level. Index fossils are used to help determine the relative age of rock layers.
Preview
Description
This ammonite fossil is a great example of a heteromorph ammonite. Heteromorph ammonites have uncoiled shells. Ammonites, related to the modern-day nautilus, are from a group of extinct marine mollusks in the subclass Ammonoidea. These predatory sea creatures maintained a diet of shrimp, starfish, and other small marine animals. In modern times ammonite fossils are used as index fossils because of their wide geographic distribution, well-defined period of existence in Earth’s history, and their ability to be easily identified at the species level. Index fossils are used to help determine the relative age of rock layers. 14
Keywords
Ammonite in matrix This ammonite fossil is a great example of a heteromorph ammonite. Heteromorph ammonites have uncoiled shells. Ammonites, related to the modern-day nautilus, are from a group of extinct marine mollusks in the subclass Ammonoidea. These predatory sea creatures maintained a diet of shrimp, starfish, and other small marine animals. In modern times ammonite fossils are used as index fossils because of their wide geographic distribution, well-defined period of existence in Earth’s history, and their ability to be easily identified at the species level. Index fossils are used to help determine the relative age of rock layers. 2014 ~ Mesozoic, Cretaceous Fossil
Keywords
Ammonite in matrix This ammonite fossil is a great example of a heteromorph ammonite. Heteromorph ammonites have uncoiled shells. Ammonites, related to the modern-day nautilus, are from a group of extinct marine mollusks in the subclass Ammonoidea. These predatory sea creatures maintained a diet of shrimp, starfish, and other small marine animals. In modern times ammonite fossils are used as index fossils because of their wide geographic distribution, well-defined period of existence in Earth’s history, and their ability to be easily identified at the species level. Index fossils are used to help determine the relative age of rock layers. 2014 ~ Mesozoic, Cretaceous Fossil