Aesthetic and Elegant Heteromorph Devonian Ammonite

Description: Uncoiled ammonites are perhaps one of the most aesthetically pleasing of all cephalopods. These are quite interesting in the fact that they are from the Devonian. Most heteromorphs are from the Mesozoic, in particular, the Late Cretaceous. This one is vey well preserved and curated. It was prepared from the surrounding matrix in which it was found. It was not reattached. The specimen has a mottled brown color, is 3D and stands upright on its matrix base.

Heteromorphs (meaning different shaped) had shells that were not tightly coiled. While little is known of their mode of life, their uncoiled shells would have precluded fast swimming. They probably wobbled along on their way through the water column grabbing whatever food came within their reach into their hungry mouths.