Description
Genuine Discoscaphites nicolletii Ammonite Fossil from South Dakota
This Discoscaphites nicolletii ammonite fossil is a genuine Upper Cretaceous specimen from the Fox Hills Sandstone at Edgemont, Fall River County, South Dakota, USA. Dating from the Maastrichtian Stage, this carefully chosen fossil represents one of the last ammonite lineages to live before the end-Cretaceous extinction event. It is an attractive natural history specimen with strong scientific interest, excellent collector appeal and a highly desirable North American fossil locality.
The photograph shows the actual fossil you will receive, making this an individual specimen rather than a stock image or representative example. For full sizing and visible condition, please see the listing photo. This fossil is a genuine specimen and includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card.
Fossil Type and Species Interest
Discoscaphites nicolletii is an ammonite, an extinct marine cephalopod related to modern squid, cuttlefish and nautilus. Ammonites lived inside chambered shells that helped regulate buoyancy, while the soft-bodied animal occupied the final living chamber at the front of the shell.
Discoscaphites belongs to the scaphitid ammonites, a distinctive group known for their partially uncoiled or heteromorph shell form. Unlike the tightly coiled shells of many Jurassic ammonites, scaphitids often developed a coiled early shell followed by a curved or hooked final body chamber. This unusual shell shape makes Discoscaphites fossils especially appealing to collectors, as they show a fascinating variation in ammonite evolution.
The species Discoscaphites nicolletii is known from the latest Cretaceous of North America and is associated with the closing chapter of ammonite history. Its shell may show ribbing, tubercles or natural ornamentation depending on preservation, giving the fossil both visual detail and scientific importance. As an ammonite, it belongs to the order Ammonitida, a major group of Mesozoic cephalopods widely used in palaeontology for dating and comparing marine rock layers.
Geology, Age and Maastrichtian Setting
This fossil comes from the Upper Cretaceous, specifically the Maastrichtian Stage, the final stage of the Cretaceous Period. This was the last interval before the major extinction event that ended the reign of non-avian dinosaurs, ammonites and many other marine and terrestrial groups around 66 million years ago.
During the Maastrichtian, the region now known as South Dakota was influenced by the retreating Western Interior Seaway, a vast inland sea that once divided North America. As the seaway withdrew, marine shorelines, sandy coastal environments, shallow sea floors and nearshore habitats were preserved in formations such as the Fox Hills Sandstone.
The Fox Hills Sandstone records a transition from deeper marine conditions to shallower coastal and shoreline environments. It is well known for fossils of ammonites, bivalves, gastropods, fish, marine reptiles and other marine organisms. Fossils from this unit are especially valued because they represent life near the end of the Cretaceous, shortly before one of the most important biological turnovers in Earth history.
Fox Hills Sandstone Locality
Edgemont in Fall River County, South Dakota is associated with fossil-bearing Upper Cretaceous deposits of the Fox Hills Sandstone. This region is part of a classic North American fossil landscape, known for preserving remains from the final stages of the Western Interior Seaway and the ecosystems that developed along its changing coastlines.
A Discoscaphites nicolletii ammonite from this locality combines a named species, a defined Maastrichtian age and a desirable South Dakota provenance. This makes it an excellent specimen for collectors interested in Cretaceous fossils, American ammonites, heteromorph ammonites, marine palaeontology and the end of the Mesozoic Era.
Authenticity and Presentation
This Discoscaphites nicolletii ammonite fossil is a genuine specimen selected for its natural character, geological interest and display quality. It is supplied exactly as shown in the listing photograph, so the fossil pictured is the actual piece you will receive.
The included Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card provides reassurance for collectors, educators, gift buyers and natural history enthusiasts. This makes the fossil suitable for a serious fossil collection, educational use or display in a cabinet, study, classroom, office or geology-themed room.
Display, Collecting and Educational Value
This Discoscaphites nicolletii ammonite is ideal for collectors of Cretaceous fossils, American fossils, ammonites, heteromorph cephalopods and natural history specimens. Its Maastrichtian age, Fox Hills Sandstone origin, South Dakota locality and distinctive scaphitid shell form give it excellent appeal as both a display fossil and an educational specimen.
As a genuine Upper Cretaceous ammonite from South Dakota, this fossil offers a direct connection to the ancient marine world of the Western Interior Seaway. It would make an excellent fossil gift, collector’s item, teaching specimen or display piece for anyone interested in ammonites, cephalopods, palaeontology, American geology and the remarkable marine life that existed near the end of the Cretaceous Period.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.