Here is an exquisite cut and polished Cleoniceras ammonite fossil from the Cretaceous of Madagascar. It exhibits gorgeous, culti-colored mineralization within the chambers, each separated by white calcite scepta (divisions). The reverse side has a very beautiful, mother of pearl look to it. This highly polished, exotic ammonite makes a superb display piece with tremendous historical appeal.

Ammonites were predatory mollusks that resembled squids with shells. These cephalopods had eyes, tentacles, and spiral shells. Though their shells resemble that of a nautilus, they are actually more closely related to living octopuses. Ammonites appeared in the fossil record about 240 million years ago, barely surviving several major extinction events. The last lineages disappeared 65 million years ago at the end of the Cretaceous.