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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 Here are some books from Amazon.com:
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By Nicola Griffith
Del Rey Kindle Edition (360 pages)
 | Lowest New Price: $10.99* Available for download now.* *(As of 11:37 Pacific 4 Feb 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 11:37 Pacific 4 Feb 2023 More Info)
Click Here | Description: Ammonites- Manufacturer: Smithsonian Books
- Brand: Smithsonian Books
- ISBNs: 9781588340474, 1588340473
- EAN: 9781588340474
Details:- Paperback
- Edition: First Printing
- 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
Click here for more information |
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By Nicola Griffith
Gollancz Paperback (416 pages)
 | List Price: $20.00* Lowest New Price: $17.44* In Stock.* *(As of 11:37 Pacific 4 Feb 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 Ammonite Press
Ammonite Press Released: October 1st, 2011 Paperback (300 pages)
 | Lowest New Price: $22.94* In stock. Usually ships within 2 to 3 days.* *(As of 11:37 Pacific 4 Feb 2023 More Info)
Click Here | Description: Queen Elizabeth II: A Royal Life in Pictures- Manufacturer: Ammonite Press
- Brand: Ammonite Press
- ISBN: 1907708073
- EAN: 9781907708077
- PartNumber: full colour throughout, 250 photographs
Details:- Paperback
- Edition: Illustrated
- Number of Pages: 300
- Author: Ammonite Press
- Publication Date: October 1st, 2011
- Release Date: October 1st, 2011
Physical Description:- Size: 10.0 Inches by 7.0 Inches by 1.0 Inches
- Weight: 2.02384356516 Pounds
Features:- Orders are despatched from our UK warehouse next working day.
Click here for more information |
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By Penelope Lively
Penguin Paperback
 | Lowest New Price: $13.25* In stock. Usually ships within 2 to 3 days.* *(As of 11:37 Pacific 4 Feb 2023 More Info)
Click Here | Description: Ammonites and Leaping Fish: A Life in Time- Manufacturer: Penguin
- Brand: Penguin
- ISBN: 0241966981
- EAN: 9780241966983
- PartNumber: 9780241966983
Details:- Paperback
- Author: Penelope Lively
Physical Description:- Size: 7.79526 Inches by 5.07873 Inches by 0.59055 Inches
- Weight: 0.3747858454 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: $14.99* In Stock.* *(As of 11:37 Pacific 4 Feb 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 Ammonite Press
Ammonite Press Released: September 1st, 2011 Paperback (192 pages)
 | Lowest New Price: $9.95* In Stock.* *(As of 11:37 Pacific 4 Feb 2023 More Info)
Click Here | Description: Churchill in "Quotes": Wit and Wisdom from the Great Statesman- Manufacturer: Ammonite Press
- Brand: Ammonite Press
- ISBN: 190667261X
- EAN: 9781906672614
- PartNumber: Illustrated
Details:- Paperback
- Format: Illustrated
- Edition: Illustrated
- Number of Pages: 192
- Author: Ammonite Press
- Publication Date: September 1st, 2011
- Release Date: September 1st, 2011
Physical Description:- Size: 6.5 Inches by 6.5 Inches by 0.5 Inches
- Weight: 0.78925489796 Pounds
Features:- Used Book in Good Condition
Click here for more information |
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By CaitlÃn R. Kiernan
PS Publishing Released: January 1st, 2018 Paperback (259 pages)
 | Lowest New Price: $17.99* In Stock.* *(As of 11:37 Pacific 4 Feb 2023 More Info)
Click Here | Description: The Ammonite Violin & Others- Manufacturer: PS Publishing
- ISBN: 1848638515
- EAN: 9781848638518
Details:- Paperback
- Number of Pages: 259
- Author: CaitlÃn R. Kiernan
- Publication Date: January 1st, 2018
- Release Date: January 1st, 2018
Physical Description:- Size: 5.39369 Inches by 8.50392 Inches by 0.98425 Inches
Click here for more information |
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