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 68 mm long on a 90 mm by 70 mm matrix
Fossil Site: Immouzar, Agadir, Morocco
Fossil Code: 11013
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. |
