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42" Free-Standing Fossil Orthoceras & Goniatite Sculpture
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This is a free-standing sculpture created from 400 million year old polished fossils from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. It includes four fossil Orthoceras (a genus of straight-bodied cephalopod) and eight Goniatites (a close relative of ammonites) fossils positioned on a sculpted piece of rock. While these fossils have been repositioned, they come from the same locality. Other fossils can be found in the rock as well.
The sculpture stands 42" tall by 25" wide, and weighs 144 lbs. A large section of rock has been left intact to act as a sturdy base for the specimen.
About Orthoceras
The fossils commonly known as Orthoceras are extinct "straight" cephalopods that lived during the Upper Devonian period around 370 million years ago. Like other cephalopods, they lived inside of their shells, had tentacles they could use to grab food, and used jet propulsion, squirting water to move. The rock containing them is quarried from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco and frequently polished to reveal the fossils and make decorative items with them.
While Orthoceras is the common name for these cephalopods, there are actually several different genera, including Michelinoceras and Arionoceras, found in association. However, unless you are one of the world's leading experts on fossil cephalopods, you probably won't be able to tell them apart.
The fossils commonly known as Orthoceras are extinct "straight" cephalopods that lived during the Upper Devonian period around 370 million years ago. Like other cephalopods, they lived inside of their shells, had tentacles they could use to grab food, and used jet propulsion, squirting water to move. The rock containing them is quarried from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco and frequently polished to reveal the fossils and make decorative items with them.
While Orthoceras is the common name for these cephalopods, there are actually several different genera, including Michelinoceras and Arionoceras, found in association. However, unless you are one of the world's leading experts on fossil cephalopods, you probably won't be able to tell them apart.
Goniatites possessed a shell divided internally into chambers filled with gas for buoyancy. An open chamber at the front of the shell provided living space for the animal. The general morphology and habit of goniatites was probably similar to that of their later relatives the ammonites: they swam freely and possessed heads with two well developed eyes and arms.
$795
SPECIES
Goniatites sp. & Orthoceras sp.
LOCATION
Atlas Mountains, Morocco
SIZE
Sculpture: 42 x 25", Weight: 144 lbs
CATEGORY
ITEM
#359928
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