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Ammonites
Click here for more Ammonite Pictures
| Scientific Classification |
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Ammonites are an extinct group of cephalopod molluscs that lived in
marine environments. They first appeared in the Late Silurian
or Early Devonian (about 400 million years ago), and went extinct
at the end of the
Cretaceous period
(about 65 million years ago), during the
Cretaceous-Tertiary mass extinction.
Although they outwardly physically resemble the modern Nautilus, Ammonites
are actually believed to be more closely related to cuttlefish, octopi,
and squid.
Ammonite
fossils are often (but not
always) a distinctive flattened spiral coil with visible ribs, although there
are species with unusual coil shapes, partially coiled shells, and even
uncoiled shells.
Most Ammonites are quite small, perhaps 9 inches (23 centimeters) or less
in diameter - there are however some larger types, for example
Parapuzosia seppenradensis which is found in
Cretaceous
rocks from
Germany
is sometimes upto 6½ feet (2 meters) in diameter,
Fossils, Ammonites
Photographic Print
Waltham, Tony
Buy at AllPosters.com
Ammonite fossils have been known
since ancient times:
- The Roman author, Pliny the Elder (23 to 79) called the
fossils,
the "horns of Ammon", because he thought that they resembled
the ram's horns which the Egyptian god Ammon was depicted with.
- In medieval times, Ammonites were often thought to be petrified snakes,
and were often called "snake stones" or
"serpent stones". The supposed petrification was usually ascribed to
the actions of saints such as Saint Patrick (who was said to have driven the snakes
out of Ireland).
- In India, Ammonites were sometimes regarded as symbols of the god Vishnu,
and were kept in temples.
Today, modern scientists often use Ammonites and Amminoids
as "index fossils"
(fossils which are used to help
date the rocks that they are found in), particularly for
Mesozoic Era rocks. This
is possible because these fossils
are relatively abundant in rocks,
are widely distributed, and because different species evolved and went
extinct in rapid succession - thus the presence of a particular species
is indicative of rocks being formed in a particular time period.
Ammonites were cephalopod molluscs that lived in the seas between 400 and 65 million years ago
Related Information & Resources
See Also
Ammonite Pictures and Posters
by AllPosters
Here are some Ammonite pictures and posters:
(Disclosure: Products details and descriptions provided by AllPosters. Our company may receive a payment if you purchase products from them after following a link from this website).
Ammonite Fossil (Arietites Buckland), Jurassic Period, 150 M.Y.A. Nancy, France
24" X 18"
Photographic Print
Artist: Ken Lucas.
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Ammonite Fossils, Triassic Period, 248-213 M.Y.A., France
24" X 18"
Photographic Print
Artist: Ken Lucas.
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Ammonite Fossil (Acriocerus Pulcherrimum), Cretaceous Period, 145-85 M.Y.A., France
24" X 18"
Photographic Print
Artist: Ken Lucas.
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An Ammonite Fossil on a Forest Path Attests to Cubas Submarine Past
24" X 18"
Photographic Print
Artist: Steve Winter.
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An ammonite fossil on a forest path attests to Cubas submarine past
38.875" X 30.875"
Framed Art Print
Artist: Steve Winter.
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An ammonite fossil on a forest path attests to Cubas submarine past
21.6875" X 17.6875"
Framed Art Print
Artist: Steve Winter.
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Ammonite in Rock, with Human Hand for Scale, Lyme Regis, Dorset, England, United Kingdom
24" X 18"
Photographic Print
Artist: Cyndy Black.
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Fossils, Ammonites
48.75" X 38.75"
Framed Art Print
Artist: Tony Waltham.
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Fossils, Ammonites
38.875" X 30.875"
Framed Art Print
Artist: Tony Waltham.
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Fossils, Ammonites
21.6875" X 17.6875"
Framed Art Print
Artist: Tony Waltham.
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Fossils, Ammonites
30.625" X 24.625"
Framed Art Print
Artist: Tony Waltham.
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Fossils, Ammonites
24" X 18"
Photographic Print
Artist: Tony Waltham.
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Ammonite Books
Here are some books from Amazon.com:
Disclosure: Products details and descriptions provided by Amazon.com. Our company may receive a payment if you purchase products from them after following a link from this website.
By Ammonite Press
Ammonite Press
Hardcover (192 pages)
 | List Price: $19.95*
Lowest New Price: $13.57*
Not yet published*
*(As of 06:50 Pacific 11 Mar 2010 More Info)
Click Here | Product Description:
"Small Woodwork Projects" deals with some of the more manageable ideas to come out of "Hobbies'" Dereham offices over the 70 years of its weekly publication run. "Hobbies" was essential reading in many lounges, parlours and living rooms up until its demise in 1965 producing literally thousands of projects for the home woodworker for consumption throughout the Empire and beyond. Some of the projects are easily built. Others are neither realistically achievable nor desirable. All give a glimpse of what life was like in the households of the last century from decade to decade, reaching back to an age before television, plastics, power tools and superglue, before Ikea, Habitat and MFI. Step back in time with Ammonite and build that adjustable ashtray, make your own deckchair, marvel at the kitchen furniture of the 20s. |
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By Neale Monks
Smithsonian
Paperback (176 pages)
 | List Price: $24.95*
Lowest New Price: $16.71*
Lowest Used Price: $14.30*
Usually ships in 24 hours*
*(As of 06:50 Pacific 11 Mar 2010 More Info)
Click Here | Product Description:
The beautiful spiral shells of these long-extinct marine invertebrates are among the most sought after and recognizable of fossils, yet little has been published about ammonites outside of geological journals. Neale Monks and Philip Palmer look at the latest ideas on ammonite biology and ecology to present this detailed picture of a once diverse and widespread group of animals. |
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Ammonite Press
Paperback (300 pages)
 | List Price: $19.95*
Lowest New Price: $13.57*
Not yet published*
*(As of 06:50 Pacific 11 Mar 2010 More Info)
Click Here |
|
Ammonite Press
Paperback (300 pages)
 | List Price: $19.95*
Lowest New Price: $13.57*
Not yet published*
*(As of 06:50 Pacific 11 Mar 2010 More Info)
Click Here |
|
Ammonite Press
Paperback (300 pages)
 | List Price: $19.95*
Lowest New Price: $13.57*
Not yet published*
*(As of 06:50 Pacific 11 Mar 2010 More Info)
Click Here |
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| Ammolite: Opal, Gemstone, Rocky Mountains, Chrysoberyl, Fossil, Ammonite, Mineral, Nacre, Biogenic substance, Amber, CIBJO, Alberta, Lethbridge, Korite International |
Alphascript Publishing
Paperback (124 pages)
 | List Price: $57.00*
Lowest New Price: $44.56*
Lowest Used Price: $74.04*
Usually ships in 24 hours*
*(As of 06:50 Pacific 11 Mar 2010 More Info)
Click Here | Product Description:
Ammolite is a rare and valuable opal-like organic gemstone found primarily along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains of the United States and Canada. It is arguably the rarest gemstone on earth, rivaling the rarity of such gemstones as alexandrite and red diamonds. It is made of the fossilized shells of ammonites, which in turn are composed primarily of aragonite, the same mineral that makes up nacreous pearls. It is one of several biogenic gemstones; others include amber and pearl. In 1981, ammolite was given official gemstone status by the World Jewellery Confederation, the same year commercial mining of ammolite began. It was designated the official gemstone of the Province of Alberta in 2004 and the official gemstone of the City of Lethbridge in 2007. Ammolite is also known as aapoak, gem ammonite, calcentine, and korite. The latter is a trade name given to the gemstone by the Alberta-based mining company Korite International, the first and largest commercial producer of ammolite. |
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By Neil L. Larson & R. A. Farrar
Geoscience Press
Paperback (148 pages)
 | List Price: $18.00*
Lowest New Price: $18.00*
Lowest Used Price: $26.28*
*(As of 06:50 Pacific 11 Mar 2010 More Info)
Click Here |
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By Caitlin R. Kiernan
Subterranean
Hardcover (240 pages)
| List Price: $25.00*
Lowest New Price: $16.50*
Not yet published*
*(As of 06:50 Pacific 11 Mar 2010 More Info)
Click Here | Product Description:
In CaitlÃn R. Kiernan's The Ammonite Violin & Others, one of contemporary dark fantasy s most bewitching and distinctive voices is back with another banquet of the weird and unexpected. In his introduction, Jeff VanderMeer (City of Saints and Madmen, Finch) writes, Kiernan creates her own light in this remarkable collection, and shines it on dark places. In doing so, she gives us gritty, lyrical, horrible, beautiful truths.
In The Ammonite Violin & Others, the author rises to meet the high expectations she set with such collections as Tales of Pain and Wonder, A is for Alien, and the World Fantasy Award-nominated To Charles Fort, With Love. Within these pages, you ll discover a dazzling suite of stories situated on the borderlands between the unspeakbale and the erotic, the grotesque and the sublime. Here are stories of dream and metamorphosis, strange lands and beings existing beyond the veil of death and beyond this earth. Here is a selkie who's lost her sealskin, a woman with a blackhole in her heart, a fairie girl fallen to the Queen of Decay, the descent of a modern-day Orpheus, and a killer who has fashioned the most exquisite musical instrument from the remains of one of his victims. Here are dreams, nightmares, and worse things yet.
The Ammonite Violin & Others is comprised of stories first published in the subscription only Sirenia Digest, run by Caitlin for her most devoted readers. This publication marks the stories' first availability to the general public. |
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By Neal L. Larson
Paperback
| Lowest New Price: $60.00*
*(As of 06:50 Pacific 11 Mar 2010 More Info)
Click Here |
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