Orthoceras - Fossilised animal - 27 cm - 21 cm

Beautiful polished fossil slab featuring several Orthoceras specimens from Morocco, discovered in the north-western Sahara. These ancient marine animals were among the earliest cephalopods to inhabit the Earth’s oceans.

Orthoceras were extinct cephalopod molluscs belonging to a group that has now completely disappeared. They lived in ancient seas hundreds of millions of years ago, particularly during the Ordovician and Silurian periods. Their name, meaning “straight horn” in Greek, refers to the characteristic conical and elongated shape of their shells.

Each shell was divided into a series of chambers separated by internal walls known as septa and traversed by a tube called the siphuncle. This structure enabled the animal to regulate its buoyancy and move through the water.

The shell is the most distinctive feature of Orthoceras. It was originally composed of aragonite, the same mineral found in the shells of many modern molluscs. Over time, geological processes such as sedimentation and mineralisation transformed these shells into the remarkable fossils visible today.

The slab has been carefully cut and polished to reveal the internal structure of the fossils, including their chambers and intricate natural patterns. The contrast between the dark polished matrix and the lighter fossil remains gives the piece a striking and elegant appearance.

Orthoceras fossils provide valuable evidence of marine life from a distant geological era. Their study allows scientists to reconstruct ancient ecosystems, investigate the evolution of species and better understand the major transformations that have shaped the history of our planet.

A transparent acrylic display stand is included, allowing the slab to be displayed securely in an upright position while preserving its clean and refined appearance. The discreet stand enhances the specimen without distracting from its natural beauty, making it ideal for a collection, study, office or interior display.