Description
Damesites cf. sugata Ammonite Fossil – Upper Cretaceous Marine Fossil from Hokkaido, Japan
This genuine Damesites cf. sugata ammonite fossil comes from the Upper Cretaceous Santonian deposits of the Abeshinai River, Saku, Nakagawa, Hokkaido, Japan. It is a carefully chosen fossil specimen, with the photo showing the actual piece you will receive. Full sizing can be seen in the photo. This authentic fossil also includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card, making it an excellent choice for collectors of ammonites, Japanese fossils, Cretaceous marine fossils and natural history display specimens.
Geology and Age
This ammonite dates to the Santonian Stage of the Upper Cretaceous Period, placing it within the later part of the Mesozoic Era. The Santonian represents a time when ammonites were still abundant and diverse in marine environments across the world, long before their extinction at the end of the Cretaceous.
The Abeshinai River area of Saku, Nakagawa, Hokkaido is part of one of Japan’s most famous Cretaceous fossil regions. Hokkaido is well known among fossil collectors and palaeontologists for producing a wide variety of ammonites from marine sedimentary rocks. These ancient deposits formed in seas connected to the north-western Pacific, where shells, organic material and fine sediment accumulated on the sea floor and were gradually buried, compacted and fossilised over millions of years.
Fossils from Hokkaido are especially desirable because they often come from well-documented Cretaceous marine strata and represent the rich ammonite faunas that lived around the margins of ancient Japan. The locality gives this specimen strong geological interest as well as excellent collector appeal.
Fossil Type and Species
This specimen is identified as Damesites cf. sugata. The use of “cf.” means it compares closely with Damesites sugata, while allowing for careful identification when preservation or individual variation means the exact species assignment is not stated with complete certainty. This is common and responsible in fossil classification, especially with ammonites where shell shape, ribbing, sutures and preservation all affect identification.
Damesites is a genus of ammonite belonging to the order Ammonitida. It is commonly associated with the family Desmoceratidae and superfamily Desmoceratoidea, a group of Cretaceous ammonites known for generally elegant shell forms and often more subtle ornamentation compared with heavily ribbed or spined ammonite groups.
Ammonites were extinct marine cephalopods, related to modern squid, cuttlefish and nautilus. They possessed coiled, chambered shells, with the living animal occupying the final body chamber. The earlier chambers helped regulate buoyancy, allowing the animal to move through the water column in ancient seas.
Morphology and Natural Features
Damesites ammonites are typically recognised by their planispiral coiling, balanced whorl shape and comparatively refined ornament. Depending on preservation, examples may show fine ribbing, growth lines, a rounded to compressed whorl section and traces of the original shell form. The shell would once have contained internal septa, creating complex suture lines where the chamber walls met the outer shell.
These intricate suture patterns are among the most important features used in ammonite classification. They also add to the visual and scientific appeal of ammonites, showing the advanced shell architecture that helped make these animals one of the most successful marine groups of the Mesozoic.
As a Cretaceous ammonite, Damesites cf. sugata represents part of a highly evolved ammonite fauna that lived during the final great age of ammonites. These animals occupied marine ecosystems alongside fish, marine reptiles, bivalves, gastropods and other invertebrates, forming an important part of the prehistoric food web.
Collector Appeal
A Damesites cf. sugata ammonite from Hokkaido, Japan is a desirable fossil for collectors who appreciate unusual localities, Cretaceous ammonites and genuine marine fossils with strong geological context. Japanese ammonites are popular with collectors worldwide due to their distinctive provenance, scientific importance and connection to the rich fossil-bearing strata of Hokkaido.
This specimen would make an excellent addition to a fossil cabinet, educational collection, geology display, ammonite collection or natural history setting. Its Santonian age places it within the Upper Cretaceous, making it especially interesting for collectors building a collection by geological period, stage or world locality.
Authenticity and Presentation
This is a genuine fossil specimen and includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card for buyer confidence. The fossil has been carefully selected, and the listing photograph shows the actual specimen you will receive, allowing buyers to view its natural preservation, individual character and display quality before purchase.
This authentic Upper Cretaceous Damesites cf. sugata ammonite fossil from the Abeshinai River, Saku, Nakagawa, Hokkaido, Japan is ideal for fossil collectors, ammonite enthusiasts, geology displays and anyone seeking a genuine piece of prehistoric marine life.
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