For your consideration is a Large Ammonite Fossil. Ammonoids are a group of extinct marine mollusc animals. Fossilized ammonites were discovered rather late in history due to their inclusion in rock formations. It was not until 1884 that the first findings were documented. These molluscs, commonly referred to as ammonites, are more closely related to living coleoids - octopuses, squid, and cuttlefish - than they are to shelled nauoids such as the living nautilus species. Ammonites are one of the most recognisable fossils around, this is due to their familiar spiral shape shell, reminiscent of what we know as a snail shell, though these creatures are not related to snails at all! They were marine animals, present between 240 - 65 million years ago, who had a coiled external shell similar to that of the modern nautilus. These creatures varied in size, ranging from only a few millimetres to some fossils being found measuring a whopping 8 feet 96 inches. Ammonites are excellent index fossils in that they link the rock layer in which a particular species or genus is found to specific geologic time periods. This ammonite fossil is in very preserved condition, approximately 20.5" diameter and weighs over 55 pounds. There is a rust coloured patina, most likely from exposure to geologic formation where this fossil was found.