A mosaic group of 21 Ammonites from the Cretaceous Period by artist, naturalist and best selling author Christopher Marley. These specimens, which have been meticulous divided into segments that reveal nature’s design within. Although ammonites outwardly resemble modern day nautiluses, they are more closely related to squids and octopuses. Specimens mined in Madagascar, such as these, are among the most beautifully preserved. The sequential chambers of ammonite’s shell mark the growth of the organism inside and, like the nautilus they resemble, acted as a gas ballast that kept the animal afloat. The Cretaceous was the last and longest segment of the Mesozoic Era, lasting approximately 79 million years, beginning with the extinction event that closed the Jurassic Period about 145.5 million years ago. Framed 32 x 40 Cretaceous Ammonite Mosaic (White Mat with Black Aluminum Frame). ; Artist: Christopher Marley ; Country of Origin: Madagascar ; Issued: 2014

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