Phylloceras sp.
 
Era: Mesozoic
 
Period: Lower Cretaceous
 
Stage: Albian (113 - 100.5  M.a.)
 
Origin: Mahajanga province (Madagascar)
 
Measurements: 65 x 50 x 32 mm / 2,56 x 1,97 x 1,26 in
 
Weight: 126 g / 4,46 oz
 
Description: This ammonite is notable for the preservation of the delicate internal structures of its shell, which are visible on the upper side. The ridges and cavities reveal part of the complex architecture of ammonites; their interiors were divided into chambers by thin, calcareous walls known as septa. These chambers played a crucial role in the animal's buoyancy, which was regulated by the siphuncle—a tube that ran through the shell, allowing the animal to control the balance of liquid and gas within it.
 

 
The preservation of these details adds significant value, as such structures are often damaged, detached, or lost entirely during the extraction and cleaning of a fossil.
 
This ammonite has undergone a cleaning and polishing process to enhance its appearance. 100% natural.
 
 
 
Ammonites inhabited our oceans for 440 million years, from the Devonian period until the end of the Cretaceous (66 million years ago). They are cephalopod mollusks, known for their diverse and abundant fossilized shells. Cephalopods are characterized by having tentacles on their heads—hence their scientific name, which literally means "head-footed"—much like modern-day octopuses or squids.
 
 
 
This piece will be shipped insured in a safety package to arrive in perfect condition.