Marlowe Posted July 12, 2018 Share Posted July 12, 2018 I bought this ammonite online, found in the gault clay of Folkestone, Kent, and it has some unusual markings on it. I can't tell if they're from before or after death or if they might be bite marks. There is what looks like a pyrite deposit in the dent and I was wondering if anyone could tell me more! Below are some pictures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldigger Posted July 12, 2018 Share Posted July 12, 2018 It looks as if most of the outer whirls are broken off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted July 12, 2018 Share Posted July 12, 2018 Welcome to the Forum. Not seeing a bite/pathology here - broken, crushed and weathered, maybe. 1 Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 IPFOTM -- MAY - 2024 _________________________________________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilDAWG Posted July 12, 2018 Share Posted July 12, 2018 This looks like it.might be just weathering as the ammonite was exposed to the elements. However, damage to this area of the shell can also occur when crabs would break through the back of the living chamber to get at organic material after the ammonite died. Don 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilsAnonymous Posted July 12, 2018 Share Posted July 12, 2018 40 minutes ago, Fossildude19 said: Welcome to the Forum. Not seeing a bite/pathology here - broken, crushed and weathered, maybe. I agree with weathered. All natural. Check these English bitten ammonites out https://goo.gl/images/C2VAj8 3 On The Hunt For The Trophy Otodus! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted July 12, 2018 Share Posted July 12, 2018 It lived, it loved, it died, got buried, got fossilized and then it was found and sold to You. Welcome to TFF! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilDAWG Posted July 12, 2018 Share Posted July 12, 2018 8 hours ago, FossilsAnonymous said: I agree with weathered. All natural. Check these English bitten ammonites out https://goo.gl/images/C2VAj8 I noticed that the damage to Marlowe's ammonite is entirely in the phragmocone, as there are suture lines on either side of the damaged area. This is inconsistent with feeding damage and supports natural weathering. The paper you linked looks interesting, but it is behind a pay wall except for the abstract and one figure. The damage in the figure seems to be very similar to damage ascribed to crab scavenging by other authors. I wonder if they considered this possibility, or on what basis they decided against that explanation. Don 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJB Posted July 12, 2018 Share Posted July 12, 2018 Looks like it was crushed and weathered to me. RB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Innocentx Posted July 13, 2018 Share Posted July 13, 2018 It does appear to be notched, left side first photo, as well as crushed. Whether bitten, crushed, or trampled it can only be conjecture what may have happened unless a tooth remains embedded. I have fossils which I think have evidence of being bitten. Fun to think about, hard to prove. 1 "Journey through a universe ablaze with changes" Phil Ochs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted July 13, 2018 Share Posted July 13, 2018 This recently published book is only available in German, but perhaps it will be translated into English someday. At any rate it goes into great detail on recognizing and defining Paleopathology, including predator injuries, so I figured it's nevertheles worth posting a link to the download: Helmut Keupp: Atlas zur Paläopathologie der Cephalopoden 3 Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marlowe Posted July 14, 2018 Author Share Posted July 14, 2018 I couldn't find anything in the book resembling this ammonite but I have discovered a lot about others I have, it's a very interesting book -just a shame it's all in German! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Innocentx Posted July 14, 2018 Share Posted July 14, 2018 Here are a couple options for translation. I haven't tried them but curious to know how they work for you(if you want to try). http://smallbusiness.chron.com/convert-pdf-german-english-57186.html https://itstillworks.com/convert-pdf-german-english-6653882.html "Journey through a universe ablaze with changes" Phil Ochs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marlowe Posted October 20, 2018 Author Share Posted October 20, 2018 could anyone tell me what species it is? *more photos* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted October 20, 2018 Share Posted October 20, 2018 4 hours ago, Marlowe said: could anyone tell me what species it is? I'm afraid I'm not familiar enough with gault clay ammonites, which I'm assuming this is, going by your earlier post here, but maybe this may be of help to you. 2 Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marlowe Posted October 21, 2018 Author Share Posted October 21, 2018 Thanks for the link; very helpful for other species but none of the pictures resemble it at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted October 21, 2018 Share Posted October 21, 2018 Maybe it's not from the Gault Clay then? Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KimTexan Posted October 21, 2018 Share Posted October 21, 2018 @Bobby Rico may know the genus. You mentioned it has pyrite where the damage is. We have pyrite here and often the pyrite oxidizes and that part of the fossil is lost. It just turns into a fine iron rust and disintegrates into dust. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Rico Posted October 21, 2018 Share Posted October 21, 2018 Thanks @KimTexan Kim No idea but I have looked though my books and asked a friend. The venter has strangely odd ribbing . Guessing either epihoplites or pos the very rare Neophlycticeras . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Rico Posted October 21, 2018 Share Posted October 21, 2018 It is odd! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldigger Posted October 21, 2018 Share Posted October 21, 2018 In answer to your question "What happened to this ammonite?" You might want to sit down. I am sorry to have to tell you this, It died! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Rico Posted October 23, 2018 Share Posted October 23, 2018 On 21/10/2018 at 5:46 PM, Bobby Rico said: epihoplites or pos the very rare Neophlycticeras . What did you think. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siteseer Posted October 24, 2018 Share Posted October 24, 2018 There is also this book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fossils-Gault-Clay-Palaentology-FG/dp/1444335421 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David in Japan Posted October 24, 2018 Share Posted October 24, 2018 9 hours ago, Bobby Rico said: What did you think. Lot of Hopplites in Gault Argiles. I think it is a good think to search is that direction but the keel seems different form Epihoplites and Neophlycticeras. I will look in my books this evening to see if I can find something too. 1 ~~~~~~~~~~~~〇~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Warmest greetings from Kumamoto、 Japan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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