Large Mississippian Fossil Orthocone Nautiloid with Preserved Jaws

Cephalopoda, Nautiloidea indet.

Phylum Mollusca, Class Cephalopoda, Subclass Nautiloidea

Geological Time: Cretaceous

Size (25.4 mm = 1 inch): Fossil is 92 mm long by 16 mm across Matrix: 100 mm by 60 mm

Fossil Site: Heath Shale Formation, Bear Gulch Limestone, Fergus County,

Code: BGF372

Price: Sold


Fossil Orthocone NautiloidDescription: The Bear Gulch Limestone is a deposit of some 70 square km in extent and 30 m in depth that has been a source of one of the most diverse assemblages of fossil fish with some 110 species having been described over the past 30 years. Most were new to science, and provided a unique view of the marine environment of Mississippian times. Fine preservation of both fish and invertebrates is a hallmark of these deposits, presumably due to an anoxic depositional environment. This specimen is an orthocone nautilod . The orthocones derive their name from their essentially straight shell; some from the Ordovician and Silurian reached lengths of 3 meters. What is most unusual is that in this case the jaws have been preserved in life position. They are the dark spots near the opening of the living chamber.

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