Ancyloceras (Audoliceras) sp.
Order Ammonoidea, Family Pleuroceratidae
Geological Time: Early Cretaceous, Barremian Stage (~115 million years ago)
Size (25.4 mm = 1 inch): Ammonite is 103 mm long on a 100 mm by 60 mm matrix
Fossil Site: Immouzar, Agadir, Morocco
Fossil Code: 11008
Price: Sold
 Description:
Coming from the Cretaceous Barremian Stage (117-113 million year old)
deposits of Agadir, Morocco, this is an Ancyloceras (Audiloceras)
ammonite. It has what is known as heteromorph shape. While most ammonites
have spiral shells that retain the same shape throughout growth (homomorph),
a major group of ammonites, the Ancyloceratina, emerged during the
Late Jurassic that had uncoiled shells, and were called heteromorph
ammonites (different-shaped). While little is known of their mode
of life, their uncoiled shells would have precluded fast swimming.
They may have wobbled their way through the water column with out-splayed
tentacles, sweeping whatever came within their reach into their hungry
mouths. As all ammonites, these went extinct at the end of the Cretaceous. |
