Nautiloid Fossil : Orthoceras species

Age : 420 Million Years     Period : Silurian     Location : Sahara Desert, Morocco     Gift Box Dimensions : 240mm (9.4") Wide x 260mm (10.2") Deep x 130mm (5.1") High

The Southern zone of Morocco, which includes the beginning of the Sahara desert and the last mountains of the Atlas range, is a region very rich in Paleozoic fossils.

The fossiliferous sites show how this zone, from the Cambrian to Devonian period (from 600 to 300 million years ago), was occupied by a large marine basin.  Among the most important fossils in this area we find the Orthoderatids, which are primitive Nautiloids provided with a conic straight or slightly curved shell, subdivided internally into segments.  The shape of the shell allowed these organisms to maintain, during their movements, a horizontal position in perfect hydrostatic equilibrium.

These sea animals were obviously agile swimmers and ferocious carnivorous predators, and could reach remarkable dimensions or one meter or more.  After the death of these Nautiloids, the shells were accumulated and covered by sediments.  In this manner they fossilized and remained intact until today.

All fossils and minerals come packaged in an attractive box filled with kraft excelsior, descriptive card. This presentation makes a great display and a cool gift!

A note about fossil and mineral specimen photographs shown on this website.

Specimens priced over $50.00 - If priced over $50.00, the photo is of the actual specimen that you will receive.

Specimens priced $50.00 or less - The photographs of fossils and minerals on this website depict "typical" specimens if priced $50.00 or less. These are not manufactured products. Accordingly, product samples will vary significantly in size, shape, and color from the "typical" specimen in the photograph. If you would like to see a photo of the actual specimen that you will receive, please email us your request and we will try to comply with the request within a couple of days.

All of the fossil specimens offered by Nature's Odyssey are from the GeoWorld Group of Italy. Nature's Odyssey is the only company in the United States to offer these products which have become very popular at the GeoWorld Nature Stores found throughout Europe. The GeoWorld Group works all over the world studying, searching for, and extracting fossils and minerals. The fossil specimens are prepared in Italy, in GeoWorld's Laboratory, by a qualified group of experts, who restore and classify rare and unique pieces as well as common small specimens. Minerals, in turn, undergo delicate cleaning operations and, if necessary, conservative treatments.