Spectacular fossil nautiloid Large nautiloid fossil – Madagascar - Height: 210 mm - Width: 150 mm- 5103 g

Museum specimen of exceptional quality

This spectacular fossil belongs to an example of Nautiloid, an ancient cephalopod belonging to the order Nautilida, closely related to the modern Nautilus pompilius. The specimen, found in the sedimentary basin of Mahajanga, Madagascar, retains its spiral planispiral shape and shows a mineralized internal structure that reveals remarkable details, including the chambers and sutures.
The surface has been polished with great care to enhance the natural color contrasts and concentric bands. The colors range from ivory and cream tones to captivating caramel and chocolate shades, with mineralizations in calcite and pyrite that testify to the mineral infiltration that occurred during the long fossilization process.
Nautiloids appeared over 500 million years ago during the Cambrian and represented one of the most important groups of marine mollusks for much of the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras. Unlike ammonites (now completely extinct), nautiloids have survived to the present day, although with very few remaining species. This fossil dates back to the Lower Cretaceous and clearly shows the adaptation of these animals to relatively deep marine environments, as confirmed by the sedimentological context of the Malagasy deposits.
This specimen represents a collectible item, perfect for: natural history museums, geology and paleontology studies, luxury natural-themed furnishings, and display objects for private collectors.

Species: Nautilus sp.
Geological age: Lower Cretaceous – about 100-120 million years ago.
Origin: Mahajanga Basin, Madagascar
Dimensions: approximately 21 x 15 x 16.5 cm
Finishing: hand-polished and polished.