Large Cretaceous Ammonite Scaphite

Large Cretaceous Ammonite Scaphite
Jeletzkytes nebrascencis
Late Cretaceous, Upper Maastrichtian
Fox Hills Formation, Dewey County, South Dakota
Scaphites were small and voracious feeders with large, parrot-like jaws which they used to crush their prey. The body chamber was turned inward toward the shell, which may have helped not only in their strategy to capture their prey but also in feeding. Jeletzkytes is so time-specific that it is used as an index fossil to help define ages during the Late Cretaceous. A beautiful red coloration recommends the present specimen. Diameter measuring 5in; Overall presentation measuring 8 x 7in