3.6" Fossil Nautilus (Cenoceras) With Belemnites - England

Fossil Nautilus (Cenoceras) With Belemnites - England #171259

This is a 9" wide section of rock that contains a beautifully preserved nautilus of the genus Cenoceras, multiple belemnite rostrums and a partial ammonite. It was collected from the Lower Jurassic, Lower Lias of Dorset, England. The exposed nautilus is about 3.6" wide and the entire specimen measures 7.1 x 5.5". Comes with an acrylic/metal (gibson) display stand.

The shell of a Nautilus is made up of two layers. The inner layer has the iridescent shine while the outer layer provides protection from external forces. Inside the shell are septa which divide the living area of the shell into compartments and help the animal maintain balance and position in the water column.

Nautilus are "living fossils" in that species similar to this one still exist in our oceans.

Belemnites are probably the most well known extinct cephalopod after the ammonites. They lived during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods and are fairly common fossils found throughout the world. They had a hard, internal, cone shaped structure that is often preserved as a fossil though it is not technically a shell. They had 10 arms but unlike modern squid these arms had small hooks instead of suckers.