Ammonites (Cophinoceras)

Most fossils are impressions of the original organisms preserved in rock.From the late Silurian to early Devonian Ammonites were extremely abundant, during the Mesozoic era. A few million years later they became extinct. Ammonites had soft bodies and were also known to be agile and intelligent invertebrates. Their bodies had straight or coiled chambered shells and sometimes lined with mineral deposits called (Camerel). Ammonites were creatures of warm tropical waters and probably preyed on fish, crustaceans and other small ocean creatures. These organisms were said to be related to the Coleoidea (Octopus, squid and the cuttlefish). Ammonites were named after the Egyptian God Ammon 'The Rainbow Serpent'. Many of the ammonites today is found in sedimentary rock, like limestone, shale and clay, when found in clay their original mother-of-pearl coating is often preserved. Known occurrences are in Germany, England, and Madagascar.