Description
Rare Juvenile Scaphites nodosus Ammonite Fossil from Montana
Genuine Campanian Specimen
This listing is for the exact juvenile Scaphites, also classified within Otoscaphites, nodosus ammonite shown in the photographs. It is a genuine natural specimen from Fox Hill, Montana, USA, preserved in the Pierre Shale and dating to the Campanian Stage of the Upper Cretaceous. The fossil has been carefully selected and photographed individually, so the pictured specimen is the actual piece you will receive. Please use the sizing photograph for full measurements and inspect every image for its condition, colour, matrix and preserved detail.
Pierre Shale Geology
The Pierre Shale was deposited in the Western Interior Seaway, a vast inland sea that divided North America during the Late Cretaceous. Fine marine mud accumulated on the sea floor and later formed shale, preserving ammonites, bivalves, fish and marine reptiles.
The Campanian Stage spans approximately 84 to 72 million years ago. Montana is famous for fossils from the Western Interior Seaway, and the Fox Hill locality provides valuable geographical context. A specimen with a named taxon, formation and geological stage carries scientific and educational interest.
About Scaphites nodosus
Scaphites belongs to a distinctive group of heteromorph ammonites. The juvenile shell formed a compact coil, while adults developed an uncoiled final body chamber. This juvenile specimen records an earlier stage of shell growth and offers an interesting view of scaphitid development.
Ammonites were marine cephalopod molluscs related within the wider group to living squid, cuttlefish and nautiluses. Their shells contained chambers separated by septa, while the animal occupied the final chamber. Strong ribs and nodules gave Scaphites nodosus its characteristic ornament. The photographs accurately show this specimen’s authentic morphology, mineral tones, shale matrix and completeness.
Scientific and Collecting Interest
Ammonites evolved rapidly and were widely distributed through ancient seas, making them valuable index fossils for comparing rock layers and establishing relative ages. Juvenile examples are especially useful for illustrating how shell shape and ornament changed as the animal grew.
This rare juvenile Scaphites nodosus is suitable for a specialist ammonite collection, a Western Interior Seaway display, a geology teaching cabinet or a distinctive natural history gift. Its Pierre Shale provenance, Campanian age and Montana locality make it appealing to collectors who value documented North American fossils.
Exact Fossil and Authenticity
You will receive the exact fossil pictured, not a stock example. Fossils are natural geological objects and may retain ancient fractures, shale matrix, mineral variation, weathering or preparation marks. These features form part of the specimen’s authentic history. Review all photographs carefully and use the sizing image for dimensions.
A generic Certificate of Authenticity card with a lifetime guarantee is included. The specimen will be packed carefully for safe transit and protection of the condition shown.
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