Fossil skeleton - Lituites - 6 cm - 14 cm
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Lituites specimen from China, dating to the Middle Ordovician (about 460 million years ago), a natural fossil with a total length of about 11 cm and matrix measuring ~14 cm by 6 cm, authentic original.
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Description from the seller
Rare Lituites Cephalopod — The Primitive 'Shepherd's Crook' — 460 Million Years Ago
Lot Description
Incredible specimen of Lituites sp., an extinct genus of nautiloid cephalopod dating to the Middle Ordovician (about 460 million years ago). This fossil is a genuine gem for collectors, sourced from the famous deposits of southern China.
Unlike common ammonites, Lituites exhibits a unique iconic morphology defined as a 'shepherd's crook': the shell begins with a perfect spiral (juvenile phase) and then develops into a long straight section called the fragmocone (adult phase).
Technical Details
Genus: Lituites (Nautiloid cephalopod)
Era: Ordovician (Paleozoic)
Age: approximately 460,000,000 years
Origin: China
Fossil Size: ~11 cm total length
Matrix Size: ~14 cm x 6 cm
Why add it to your collection?
Exceptional Preservation: The fossil emerges from the matrix in high relief, allowing full appreciation of the three-dimensional shell structure. The initial spiral is intact and well defined, a rare detail to find in specimens of this length.
Natural Aesthetics: The preparation has been executed masterfully, leaving the rock matrix in its natural, rough state. This color contrast between fossil and surrounding rock makes it a perfect display piece.
Paleontological Significance: Often mistaken by laypeople for a gastropod (snail), Lituites was in fact an active predator of primordial seas, an ancestor of modern Nautilus. Owning an Ordovician piece means possessing one of the oldest testimonies of complex life on Earth.
Condition: Excellent, fossil 100% natural, no chemical reconstruction or invasive resins.
Rare Lituites Cephalopod — The Primitive 'Shepherd's Crook' — 460 Million Years Ago
Lot Description
Incredible specimen of Lituites sp., an extinct genus of nautiloid cephalopod dating to the Middle Ordovician (about 460 million years ago). This fossil is a genuine gem for collectors, sourced from the famous deposits of southern China.
Unlike common ammonites, Lituites exhibits a unique iconic morphology defined as a 'shepherd's crook': the shell begins with a perfect spiral (juvenile phase) and then develops into a long straight section called the fragmocone (adult phase).
Technical Details
Genus: Lituites (Nautiloid cephalopod)
Era: Ordovician (Paleozoic)
Age: approximately 460,000,000 years
Origin: China
Fossil Size: ~11 cm total length
Matrix Size: ~14 cm x 6 cm
Why add it to your collection?
Exceptional Preservation: The fossil emerges from the matrix in high relief, allowing full appreciation of the three-dimensional shell structure. The initial spiral is intact and well defined, a rare detail to find in specimens of this length.
Natural Aesthetics: The preparation has been executed masterfully, leaving the rock matrix in its natural, rough state. This color contrast between fossil and surrounding rock makes it a perfect display piece.
Paleontological Significance: Often mistaken by laypeople for a gastropod (snail), Lituites was in fact an active predator of primordial seas, an ancestor of modern Nautilus. Owning an Ordovician piece means possessing one of the oldest testimonies of complex life on Earth.
Condition: Excellent, fossil 100% natural, no chemical reconstruction or invasive resins.
Details
Number of objects
1
Scientific name
Lituites
Country of origin
China
Geological period
Ordovician, Middle (470 - 458.4 million years)
Condition
Natural
Height
6 cm
Width
14 cm
Authenticity
Original/official
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