Desmophyllites larteti Fossil Ammonite Upper Cretaceous Morocco Genuine COA Gift Santonian Campanian Collector Cephalopod

Description

Genuine Desmophyllites larteti Ammonite Fossil

This listing is for a genuine Desmophyllites larteti ammonite fossil from the Upper Cretaceous of Morocco, dating to the Santonian–Campanian interval. This is a carefully chosen fossil specimen, selected for its natural character, collector appeal and scientific interest. The photo shows the actual fossil you will receive, so you can buy with confidence knowing the colour, preservation, shape and condition shown are the exact features of this individual piece. Full sizing details can be seen in the photo.

This fossil includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card, confirming that it is a genuine specimen.

Fossil Type and Scientific Classification

Desmophyllites larteti is an extinct ammonite, a shelled marine cephalopod related to the wider group of ancient ammonoids. Ammonites are among the most recognisable fossils from the Mesozoic Era, valued by collectors for their distinctive spiral shells and by palaeontologists for their usefulness in studying ancient marine environments.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Mollusca

Class: Cephalopoda

Subclass: Ammonoidea

Order: Ammonitida

Superfamily: Desmoceratoidea

Family: Desmoceratidae

Subfamily: Desmoceratinae

Genus: Desmophyllites

Species: Desmophyllites larteti

The species Desmophyllites larteti was formally named by Seunes in 1891. It belongs to the desmoceratid ammonites, a group known from Cretaceous marine deposits and often associated with open-water shelf environments.

Age and Geological Setting

This ammonite comes from the Upper Cretaceous, specifically the Santonian–Campanian interval. The Santonian and Campanian stages formed part of the later Cretaceous Period, a time when warm shallow seas covered large areas of what are now North Africa, Europe and the Middle East. Morocco is world famous for its Cretaceous fossil deposits, producing a wide variety of ammonites, marine reptiles, fish, shark teeth and other marine fossils.

During the lifetime of Desmophyllites larteti, the region that is now Morocco would have been part of a rich marine environment. These ancient seas supported a complex ecosystem of swimming cephalopods, bony fish, sharks, marine reptiles, crustaceans and planktonic organisms. Ammonites such as Desmophyllites were active marine animals, using their chambered shells for buoyancy and living in the outer body chamber while moving through the water column.

Morphology and Notable Features

Desmophyllites is generally associated with a smooth to subtly ornamented, involute shell form. Involute ammonites have whorls that overlap strongly, meaning much of the earlier shell is enclosed by later growth. This gives the fossil a compact, elegant, rounded appearance compared with more openly coiled ammonites.

As with other ammonites, the shell would originally have been divided internally into chambers by septa. These chambers helped control buoyancy, allowing the animal to rise and sink in the water. The visible external form of the shell reflects both the animal’s growth and the conditions of fossilisation. Natural preservation, matrix, colour variation, surface texture and any visible shell detail are all part of the individual character of this fossil.

Collector and Display Appeal

A Desmophyllites larteti ammonite makes an excellent addition to a fossil collection, educational display, natural history cabinet or geology-themed gift. Upper Cretaceous ammonites are especially popular because they represent some of the later ammonite lineages before the group became extinct at the end of the Cretaceous Period, around the same time as the non-avian dinosaurs.

This Moroccan ammonite is suitable for collectors interested in Cretaceous fossils, ammonites, cephalopods, prehistoric marine life, natural history and palaeontology. It is also a strong display piece for anyone who appreciates genuine fossils with real geological age and scientific background.

Authenticity and Specimen Details

You will receive the exact Desmophyllites larteti ammonite fossil shown in the photo. This is not a stock image or a randomly selected example. The fossil is a genuine specimen and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card.

Please see the photo for full sizing, condition and visual details. Natural fossils may show signs of age, mineralisation, matrix, surface wear, repair, preparation marks or small imperfections, all of which are part of their geological history and individual character.