Ammonites were an abundant group of extinct marine mollusks, belonging to the cephalopod class, known for their distinctive coiled external shells. Flourishing...
Ammonites were extinct marine cephalopods, related to modern octopuses and squids, characterized by their external, chambered spiral shells. They thrived during the Mesozoic Era.
Ammonites lived during the Mesozoic Era, specifically from the Triassic period, throughout the Jurassic, and until the end of the Cretaceous period, about 250 to 66 million years ago.
Most ammonites are believed to have been predatory carnivores, feeding on small fish, crustaceans, and other marine invertebrates. Some larger species might have been scavengers.
Ammonite fossils are highly valuable as "index fossils." Their rapid evolution, widespread distribution, and distinct shell features allow paleontologists to accurately date rock layers and correlate geological strata globally.
Yes, ammonites are distant relatives of modern Nautilus. Both belong to the class Cephalopoda and possess external, chambered shells, but they represent different evolutionary branches within the group.