HETEROMORPH AMMONITE TRIPTYCH

Barremian, circa 115 million years
Morocco
82 × 81 × 26 cm

Provenance: Swiss private collection

Ammonites are fossilised shells of extinct cephalopods and are equally important for the study of geology and paleontology. Thanks to their great variety of forms and unique beauty, they are popular collectors' items. Ammonites were named 'Ammon's horns' after the ancient Egyptian god of life and reproduction, who was usually depicted with ram horns.

The basic shape of the calcareous shell of the ammonites is a conical tube, which is rolled up in the manner of a logarithmic spiral to form a so-called plane spiral. Partly, housings developed, which unrolled in all spatial directions. The forms called aberrant or heteromorphic ammonites were considered for a long time as 'abnormal', as evolutionary degeneracy. In part, this was even used to explain the extinction of ammonites. In more recent research, these forms are rather seen as adaptations to the strong sea level rises towards the end of the Secondary Era. Ammonites populated the seas during a long period, so first forms are already known about 400 million years ago. They died out only at the end of the Creataceous, 65 million years ago, at the same time as the dinosaurs.

There are not enough adjectives to accurately describe this wonderful and surreal triptych
of ammonites. Unlike other varieties of ancient cephalopod, heteromorphs do not show the tight coiling structures so associated with the classification. This 'alien-looking' Ammonite Triptych is partially coiled like a snake or worm around an impressive ball of rocky matrix. A rare and unusual fossil to say the least. This example is in wonderful condition and exhibits only the expected restoration to the spines.