North America, United States, South Dakota, Pennington County, Cheyenne River, Pierre Shale Formation, Lower Cretaceous, 100.5 to 66 million years ago. A superb, fossilized ammonite of the Placenticeras meeki genus in a stone matrix with lovely sutures and tightly coiled shell. The matrix forms a natural stand for the shell, with the chamber opening orientated downward, tapering around the slightly recessed spiral axis. The fractal patterning or suture marks are an aesthetically pleasing natural part of ammonite anatomy and their shapes can help determine species. Plancenticeras meeki was a swift predator that swam after prey, their genus name is in honor of Fielding Meek (1817 to 1876), a pioneer in American paleontology. They could reach a staggering 1 meter (3.3 feet) in diameter - imagine a shelled creature of that size with tentacles outstretched swimming by! Size: 11.5" L x 6" W x 9.75" H (29.2 cm x 15.2 cm x 24.8 cm)

Provenance: private New Jersey, USA collection

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#172155

Professionally excavated and prepared. Repair to eight side of ammonite shell, visible break line and infill. Stone matrix creates natural stand for shell. Great suture patterning.