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Orthoceras fossil – 400 million year old devonian cephalopod – erfoud morocco – nautiloid straight shell – genuine fossil with certificate

Orthoceras fossil – 400 million year old devonian cephalopod – erfoud morocco – nautiloid straight shell – genuine fossil with certificate

£10.80

All of our Fossils are 100% Genuine Specimens & come with a Certificate of Authenticity

**Please note: Some fossils maybe propped up for photo purposes**

Specimen: Orthoceras

Age: Devonian

Location Found: Erfoud, Sahara Desert, Morocco

Size (picture scale cube=1cm):  26 x 9 x 34mm (1.02 x 0.35 x 1.34 inches)

Cube = 1cm square

 

Orthoceras, meaning “Straight Horn”, was a mollusc that lived more than 400 million years ago. Its name refers to the characteristic long, straight, conical shell these marine animals possessed. The soft body lived in the last open-ended segment at the large end of the conical shell, the preserved fossilised shell is all that remains of this ancestor of our modern-day squid. As the body grew and the housing segment became too small, a dividing wall, called the septa, grew to separate the old “home chamber” from the new one. The siphuncle is a tube that runs the entire length of the shell, through each of the chambers. In life the animal could adjust the gas pressure in these chambers and so move up and down through the water. An open chamber at the front of the shell provided living space for the animal where, if felt threatened, it could release a jet of water propelling itself backwards which would have served as a very quick retreat!

**The image shows the ACTUAL specimen you will receive**

**Please note the following:

1) This items picture will change once we update the listing to a new replacement specimen after this specific item has been sold, this action will cause the picture in your purchase history to also change to the new image.

2) The picture will also change if you’ve had the item in your basket for a while and someone else buys it during that period (having items stored in your basket does not remove that listing from the view of other customers, meaning it will still be active on eBay).

3) We would suggest saving, or taking a screenshot of the items image as soon as you have purchased it for your own records of comparison for once the item has been received in the post. We also keep a record of every image we upload.

(Actual as seen)

Only 1 left in stock

SKU: FP9770 Category:

Description

Take home an authentic piece of Earth’s prehistoric oceans with this beautifully preserved Orthoceras fossil, dating back over 400 million years to the Devonian Period. Sourced directly from Erfoud, Sahara Desert, Morocco, this fossil is a striking example of one of the earliest known marine cephalopods.

Orthoceras, meaning “Straight Horn”, belonged to a group of nautiloid cephalopods and was a distant ancestor of today’s squid and cuttlefish. These ancient creatures had long, straight, conical shells, which are the part that fossilises and remains today. Their bodies lived in the final, open chamber of the shell, while the rest of the shell was filled with gas chambers for buoyancy control.

As the Orthoceras grew, it built new living chambers by sealing off the older ones with septa (wall-like dividers). A tube called the siphuncle ran through the chambers and allowed the creature to control gas and fluid for depth regulation. If threatened, it could expel water rapidly from its body chamber and jet away—just like modern squids.

Fossil Details:

  • Specimen: Orthoceras
  • Genus: Nautiloid Cephalopod
  • Age: Devonian Period (~400 million years old)
  • Location: Erfoud, Sahara Desert, Morocco
  • Scale Cube = 1cm – Please refer to photo for full size

Why This Fossil is Special:

  • 100% Genuine Fossil with Certificate of Authenticity
  • From a classic fossil location in North Africa
  • Perfect for fossil collectors, students, and display
  • An educational glimpse into Earth’s early marine life
  • Carefully hand-selected and photographed

ACTUAL AS SEEN:

The image shown is the EXACT specimen you will receive. We take pride in personally selecting and photographing each item. Dimensions are as accurate as possible, although slight variations may occur due to the fossil’s natural shape. Please note that colours may appear slightly different depending on lighting conditions or screen settings.

Important Note:

  1. Once this item is sold, the listing will be updated with a new similar fossil and photograph. This may cause the image in your purchase history to update as well.
  2. If you’ve added the item to your basket and someone else purchases it, the image may also change as the listing refreshes.
  3. We recommend saving or screenshotting your purchased item’s image immediately after buying, for your records. We also retain a photo archive of every item we list.

Bring home this stunning, museum-quality piece of natural history and own a real fossil from the ancient seas of the Devonian era.

Additional information

Weight 2.5 g
Era

Devonian
Origin

Morocco

Devonian Information

The Devonian Period (419–359 million years ago), known as the "Age of Fishes," was a time of major evolutionary advances in both marine and terrestrial life. The oceans were dominated by armored placoderm fish, early sharks, and lobe-finned fish like Tiktaalik, which had features that helped vertebrates transition to land. Coral reefs flourished, and ammonites became more diverse. On land, the first forests appeared, with early trees like Archaeopteris, leading to a drop in atmospheric carbon dioxide and climate cooling. The first tetrapods (four-legged vertebrates) began evolving from fish, marking a critical step in the evolution of amphibians. The period ended with the Devonian extinction, likely caused by ocean anoxia and climate shifts, wiping out many marine species and reshaping ecosystems.

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