Two ammonites, one half, one whole, from the Morondava River Basin, near the town of Sakaraha, in the Atsimo-Andrefana region of southwest Madagascar, in the former province of Tuléar.  They date from the Late Jurassic period, Oxfordian age (~161 to 156 million years ago).  Cut ammonites are uncommon from this area because the interiors are not always well preserved.

The one on the left shows the open chambers of the shell, known more technically as the camerea (Latin, “chamber, room, enclosed space”).  The one on the right shows its sutures (Latin, “stich”), patterns created where the inner folds met the exterior of the shell.  The ammonite  was polished to reveal them.

© 2014, Images and Text, Christopher Lee Matthews

Be sure to visit our TWO online stores: The Metaphysical Department of Enter the Earth and Enter the Earth.