Large Polished Goniatite Ammonite

Goniatites are ammonites with a distinctive goniotitic zig-zag pattern in the sutures that mark the spiraling growth of the shell. The extinct ammonite that decended from Nautiloids is an example of the remarkable symmetry often found in nature. Mineral exchange over the eons can create an amazing array of contrasting colors and the beautiful natural display you see here. Ammonites were Cephalopods sharing a common ancestor with the squid and octopus. The ammonites that appeared in the Devonian became very diverse and widespread in the Paleozoic and Mesazoic before going extinct along with the dinosaurs at the end of the Cretaceous period.

The pictures tell the story of this large, beautifully polished display fossil exhibiting a mixture of earth-tones.