Orthocera Black Marble

This specimen is a fossilised Orthoceras, an extinct marine cephalopod that lived during the Ordovician period, over 400 million years ago. Displayed in a museum quality deep box frame.

Preserved in polished black limestone, the long, tapered shell displays its characteristic segmented chambers, each once used to regulate buoyancy in ancient seas. The dark marble matrix contrasts sharply with the pale fossil, highlighting its natural geometry and structure.

Recovered from fossil beds in Morocco, the specimen has been carefully shaped and polished to reveal the fine details of both fossil and stone, offering a striking glimpse into early ocean life.

Frame: Satin finished acrylic
Mount: 300 GSM acid free card stock & 2 mm bevelled matboard border
Display: Self standing frame or wall hanging bracket
Dimensions: 406x406x64mm

The picture shown is an example of the quality that you can expect to receive. Please be aware that, as these are natural products, they are subject to some variation.

Orthocera ("straight horn")
Timeline: Ordovician - Devonian (490 - 370 million years)
Size: 1 cm - 4.5 metres in length
Range: Worldwide
Habitat: Demersal, close to the seabed
Diet: Carnivore

Orthoceras are a very diverse and successful branch of nautiloid cephalopods, related to modern day squids, octopuses & cuttlefish. Their name Orthocera, meaning “Straight Horn” refers to their straight, conical shaped shells. They used jet propulsion to move through the water, by drawing water into their shells and squirting it out. They are thought to have been predators and scavengers, using their tentacles to grab and pull prey towards its strong beak. These molluscs could range in size from a few centimetres to over fourteen feet long!

We work closely with reputable suppliers all over the world to source high quality, genuine specimens. Each fossil comes with a certificate of authenticity documenting the provenance of each specimen, including the age and location where it was discovered.

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