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Ammonites
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| 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,
Fossilized ammonites preserved in rock:
Ammonite fossils have been known
since ancient times:
- The Roman author, Pliny the Elder (23 CE to 79 CE) 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 Books
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By Nicola Griffith
Del Rey
Kindle Edition (360 pages)
 | Lowest New Price: $10.99*
Available for download now.*
*(As of 13:39 Pacific 29 May 2023 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
AmmoniteDetails:- Kindle Edition
- Format: Kindle eBook
- Edition: Reprint
- Number of Pages: 360
- Author: Nicola Griffith
Click here for more information |
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By Neale Monks
Smithsonian Books
Multicolor Paperback (176 pages)
 | Lowest New Price: $24.95*
In Stock.*
*(As of 13:39 Pacific 29 May 2023 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Ammonites- Manufacturer: Smithsonian Books
- Brand: Smithsonian Books
- ISBNs: 9781588340474, 1588340473
- EAN: 9781588340474
Details:- Paperback
- Edition: First Edition
- Number of Pages: 176
- Authors: Neale Monks, Philip Palmer
Physical Description:- Size: 9.21 Inches by 6.05 Inches by 0.4 Inches
- Weight: 0.78 Pounds
- Color: Multicolor
Features:- Used Book in Good Condition
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By Nicola Griffith
Gollancz
Paperback (416 pages)
 | List Price: $20.00*
Lowest New Price: $18.83*
In Stock.*
*(As of 13:39 Pacific 29 May 2023 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Ammonite. by Nicola Griffith- Manufacturer: Gollancz
- ISBN: 0575118237
- EAN: 9780575118232
- PartNumber: 11108874
Details:- Paperback
- Number of Pages: 416
- Author: Nicola Griffith
Physical Description:- Size: 7.63778 Inches by 5.03936 Inches by 1.10236 Inches
- Weight: 0.73634395508 Pounds
Click here for more information |
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By Neil L. Larson, R. A. Farrar, Neal L Larson & Robert A Farrar
Geoscience Pr
Released: February 17th, 1997
Paperback (148 pages)
 | List Price: $18.00*
Lowest Used Price: $14.06*
In Stock.*
*(As of 13:39 Pacific 29 May 2023 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Ammonites and the Other Cephalopods of the Pierre Seaway: Identification Guide- Manufacturer: Geoscience Pr
- Brand: Geoscience Pr
- ISBN: 0945005253
- EAN: 9780945005254
Details:- Paperback
- Edition: 1
- Number of Pages: 148
- Authors: Neil L. Larson, Steven D. Jorgensen, R. A. Farrar, Peter L. Larson, Neal L Larson, Steven D Jorgensen, Robert A Farrar, Peter Larson
- Publication Date: February 17th, 1997
- Release Date: February 17th, 1997
Physical Description:- Size: 10.25 Inches by 7.25 Inches by 0.5 Inches
- Weight: 0.85 Pounds
Click here for more information |
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By Penelope Lively
Penguin Books
Released: June 23rd, 2015
Tan Paperback (240 pages)
 | List Price: $17.00*
Lowest New Price: $15.48*
In Stock.*
*(As of 13:39 Pacific 29 May 2023 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Dancing Fish and Ammonites: A Memoir- Manufacturer: Penguin Books
- Brand: Penguin Books
- ISBN: 014312627X
- EAN: 9780143126270
Details:- Paperback
- Edition: Reprint
- Number of Pages: 240
- Author: Penelope Lively
- Publication Date: June 23rd, 2015
- Release Date: June 23rd, 2015
Physical Description:- Size: 7.7 Inches by 0.7 Inches by 5.0 Inches
- Weight: 0.4 Pounds
- Color: Tan
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By Mr Stanton Fordice Fink V
Independently Published
Released: July 30th, 2020
Paperback (45 pages)
 | Lowest New Price: $9.00*
In Stock.*
*(As of 13:39 Pacific 29 May 2023 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
17 Defunct Ammonites: Volume I- Manufacturer: Independently published
- Brand: Independently Published
- EAN: 9798671013825
Details:- Paperback
- Number of Pages: 45
- Author: Mr Stanton Fordice Fink V
- Publication Date: July 30th, 2020
- Release Date: July 30th, 2020
Physical Description:- Size: 11.0 Inches by 8.5 Inches by 0.11 Inches
- Weight: 0.29 Pounds
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By Ulrich Lehmann
Cambridge University Press
Released: December 31st, 1981
Hardcover (252 pages)
 | Lowest Used Price: $85.44*
In Stock.*
*(As of 13:39 Pacific 29 May 2023 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
The Ammonites: Their Life and Their World- Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
- ISBN: 0521236274
- EAN: 9780521236270
Details:- Hardcover
- Edition: translated
- Number of Pages: 252
- Author: Ulrich Lehmann
- Publication Date: December 31st, 1981
- Release Date: December 31st, 1981
Physical Description:- Size: 8.97636 Inches by 5.98424 Inches by 0.70866 Inches
- Weight: 1.2786811196 Pounds
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