Description
Rare Mesopuzosia pacifica Fossil Ammonite
This is a rare 5 inch Mesopuzosia pacifica fossil ammonite from the Lower Coniacian stage of the Cretaceous Period, collected from Tulear, Madagascar. This carefully chosen fossil is a genuine specimen and includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card. The photograph shows the actual fossil you will receive, allowing collectors to view the real preservation, shape, colour, surface texture and natural character of the specimen before purchase.
Full sizing can be seen in the photo. This is an excellent fossil for collectors of rare ammonites, Madagascar fossils, Cretaceous marine fossils, named species ammonites, natural history specimens and display-quality cephalopod fossils.
Cretaceous Geology and Age
Mesopuzosia pacifica dates from the Lower Coniacian, part of the Late Cretaceous Period, approximately 89 to 87 million years old. During this time, Madagascar was bordered by warm marine waters connected to the developing Indian Ocean. These ancient seas supported a rich ecosystem of ammonites, nautiloids, bivalves, gastropods, echinoids, fish, marine reptiles and other prehistoric sea life.
The Coniacian is an important stage in Cretaceous geology because ammonites were still highly diverse and widespread across the world’s oceans. Their rapid evolution and broad distribution make them valuable fossils for dating and correlating marine sedimentary rocks. Specimens from Madagascar are especially popular with collectors because the island’s Cretaceous deposits are known for attractive ammonite preservation and a wide variety of shell forms.
Fossil Type and Species
This specimen is an ammonite, an extinct marine cephalopod related to modern squid, cuttlefish and nautilus. Ammonites lived inside chambered shells. The animal occupied the final outer body chamber, while the earlier chambers helped regulate buoyancy, allowing it to move through the water column in ancient Cretaceous seas.
Species: Mesopuzosia pacifica
Genus: Mesopuzosia
Family: Desmoceratidae
Superfamily: Desmoceratoidea
Order: Ammonitida
Class: Cephalopoda
Phylum: Mollusca
Mesopuzosia is a notable Cretaceous ammonite genus, recognised for its generally elegant coiled shell form and relatively broad distribution in marine deposits. Species within this group are of interest to collectors because they often show a strong classic ammonite shape while representing the diverse and advanced ammonite faunas of the Late Cretaceous.
Morphology and Display Features
Mesopuzosia pacifica has the classic planispiral ammonite form, with the shell coiled in a single flat spiral. The whorls record the growth of the animal throughout life, with each new stage of shell development added around the outer edge. Depending on preservation, specimens may show subtle ribbing, growth lines, whorl definition, shell curvature, mineralised surfaces or natural chamber detail.
The chambered shell was an efficient biological structure, combining strength with buoyancy control. This allowed the living ammonite to adjust its position in the water column, while the outer body chamber housed the soft-bodied animal. The balanced spiral shape and natural geometry of ammonites make them among the most recognisable and collectable fossils in the world.
At approximately 5 inches, this specimen has excellent display appeal. It is a strong size for a fossil cabinet, geology display, educational collection or natural history setting, while still remaining easy to handle and display. Its named species identification and Lower Coniacian age add further scientific and collector interest.
Tulear, Madagascar Fossil Locality
Tulear, also known as Toliara, is located in southwest Madagascar, a region famous for Cretaceous marine fossils. The sedimentary deposits of Madagascar preserve evidence of ancient seas that once covered or bordered parts of the island. Ammonite shells and other marine remains were buried in seabed sediments and gradually fossilised through mineralisation, compaction and geological time.
Madagascar ammonites are highly sought after by collectors because they often combine attractive preservation, distinctive colouration, strong shell form and important geological context. A Mesopuzosia pacifica from the Lower Coniacian of Tulear represents a desirable example of Late Cretaceous marine life from one of the world’s best-known fossil-producing regions.
Authenticity and Collector Appeal
This rare Mesopuzosia pacifica ammonite is a genuine fossil specimen and includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card. The fossil has been carefully selected as a quality collector’s piece, and the photograph shows the exact specimen supplied, so buyers can purchase with confidence.
As with all genuine fossils, natural cracks, mineralisation, matrix, surface marks, preparation marks, colour variation and age-related wear may be present. These features are normal characteristics of authentic fossils and form part of the specimen’s individual geological history. This 5 inch Lower Coniacian ammonite from Tulear, Madagascar is ideal for collectors of Cretaceous fossils, rare ammonites, Madagascar natural history specimens and genuine named species fossil displays.
