Description
Neopuzosia japonicus Ammonite Fossil – Upper Cretaceous Marine Fossil from Hokkaido, Japan
This genuine Neopuzosia japonicus ammonite fossil comes from the Upper Cretaceous Campanian deposits of Saku, Nakagawa, Hokkaido, Japan. It is a carefully chosen fossil specimen, and the photo shows 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 a desirable addition for collectors of ammonites, Japanese fossils, Cretaceous marine fossils and natural history display specimens.
Geology and Age
This fossil dates to the Campanian Stage of the Upper Cretaceous Period, a time when ammonites were still highly successful marine animals living in oceans across the world. The Campanian lasted during the later part of the Cretaceous, before the final Maastrichtian stage and before the end-Cretaceous extinction that removed the ammonites entirely.
Saku, Nakagawa in Hokkaido, Japan, is well known for Cretaceous marine fossil material. During the Late Cretaceous, this region formed part of a rich marine setting along the north-western Pacific realm. Sediments deposited in these ancient seas preserved ammonites, bivalves, gastropods, marine reptiles and other ocean life, giving fossil collectors a remarkable window into prehistoric marine ecosystems.
The rocks of Hokkaido are particularly famous for producing well-preserved Cretaceous ammonites, many of which are prized for their scientific and display value. Fossils from this region often represent animals that lived in offshore marine environments, where shells settled into soft sediment after death and were gradually buried, mineralised and preserved over millions of years.
Fossil Type and Species
This specimen is identified as Neopuzosia japonicus, a species of ammonite from the Upper Cretaceous. Ammonites were extinct cephalopods related to modern squid, cuttlefish and nautilus. They possessed coiled chambered shells, with the living animal occupying the final outer body chamber while the inner chambers helped with buoyancy control.
Neopuzosia is a desmoceratid ammonite, generally associated with the family Desmoceratidae, superfamily Desmoceratoidea and order Ammonitida. These ammonites are known for their elegant, rounded to compressed whorl shape and often relatively understated ornament compared with more heavily ribbed or spined ammonite groups. Many examples show fine growth lines, subtle ribbing or smooth shell surfaces, giving them a clean and classic ammonite appearance.
The species name japonicus reflects its association with Japan, and Japanese Cretaceous ammonites are especially popular among collectors due to their distinctive provenance, quality of preservation and strong palaeontological interest. Neopuzosia and related forms are valued for their balanced shell proportions and their connection to the rich Late Cretaceous ammonite faunas of the Pacific region.
Morphology and Natural Features
Neopuzosia japonicus typically displays a planispirally coiled shell form, with whorls arranged in a flat spiral. The shell would originally have contained complex internal septa, producing intricate suture lines where the chamber walls met the outer shell. These suture patterns are one of the key features used by palaeontologists to study and classify ammonites.
As with many ammonites, the overall form reflects a highly adapted marine animal. The coiled shell provided protection, support and buoyancy regulation, while the living cephalopod likely used arms and a beak-like jaw to capture food. Ammonites were important members of Cretaceous marine ecosystems, serving both as active animals within the water column and as prey for larger marine predators.
Collector Appeal
A Neopuzosia japonicus ammonite from Hokkaido is a highly appealing fossil for collectors who appreciate Cretaceous ammonites, Japanese fossils and genuine marine fossil specimens with strong geological context. Its Upper Cretaceous age places it close to the final chapter of ammonite evolution, making it especially interesting for anyone studying or collecting fossils from the later Mesozoic Era.
This specimen is suitable for display in a fossil cabinet, educational collection, geology classroom, natural history display or themed collection of ammonites from around the world. Its Japanese locality adds extra interest, as Hokkaido ammonites are widely admired for their scientific importance and collector appeal.
Authenticity and Presentation
This is a genuine fossil specimen and includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card. The fossil has been carefully selected, and the listing photograph shows the actual specimen you will receive, allowing buyers to view the individual preservation, shape and character of the piece before purchase.
A beautiful Upper Cretaceous Neopuzosia japonicus ammonite fossil from Saku, Nakagawa, Hokkaido, Japan, ideal for fossil collectors, ammonite enthusiasts, geology displays and anyone seeking an authentic piece of prehistoric marine life.
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