Wood fossils
Beautiful polished pieces showing amazing display and features
Beautiful polished pieces showing amazing display and features
From Chinchilla, Queensland
Agathoxylon fossil wood from the Early Cretaceous Orallo Formation is a type of 130-million-year-old petrified conifer wood found near Chinchilla and Miles in Queensland, Australia.These ancient tree remains are famous among collectors and scientists for their beautiful, multi-coloured rings. When sliced and polished, they showcase pristine prehistoric cellular details
Siroccopteryx is an extinct genus of anhanguerid pterodactyloid pterosaur which lived in Morocco during the Cenomanian stage of the Late Cretaceous. Some researchers, such as David M. Unwin, consider the genus a junior synonym of Coloborhynchus.
The genus was named and described in 1999 by Bryn Mader and Alexander Kellner. The name Siroccopteryx means "wing of the Sirocco", referring to the warm wind that originates in the North Africa and then goes through the Mediterranean, and the Greek word pteryx, a standard suffix for pterosaur genera that means "wing". The epithet of the type species S. moroccensis refers to its country of origin.
This pterosaur is known only from the front part of the jaw with teeth. The holotype fossil, LINHM 016 (Long Island Natural History Museum), was found near Ksar es Souk, in the province of Errachidia in the region of Meknes-Tafilalet at 30.4 ° N, 4.9 ° longitude (17.6 ° N, 4.2 ° W longitude) in Beg'aa, west of Hamada du Guiren in southeastern Morocco, in a layer of red sandstone, a fine-grained alluvium from the Albian to Cenomanian. It consists of front teeth and a snout that's not compressed. The muzzle was long and narrow, with a large elongated terminal part, along with some sort of shaped crest anterior keel higher than that of Anhanguera but not as high as that of Coloborhynchus or Tropeognathus. The teeth were sharp but short and more robust than in Anhanguera. The bone is rough and leathery, with strange marks of wrinkles and depressions, this may be a consequence of the conditions of preservation, but the descriptors suggest that indicate a disease, possibly caused by dental abscesses. According to André Veldmeijer, is probably that this damage was post-mortem and indicate the presence of a horn cover in the ridge.
The wingspan of this large pterosaur should be 4 to 5 meters (13 to 16 ft). It is likely that this animal was a specialized glider, and ventured into the sea off the coast of Africa, to capture fishes that swam near the surface.
Kem Kem Basin, Taouz, Morocco 1.41"
94mya, found in Lebanon
Ordovician Ophiura (brittle stars) are ~450-million-year-old echinoderm fossils primarily sourced from the Kataoua and Tiouririne Formations near the Draa Valley and El Kaid Rami in Morocco. Their distinct central disks, radiating articulated arms, and bright orange coloring—caused by iron pyrite oxidation—make them highly sought after by collectors
Found in Morocco
Urasterella is an extinct genus of sea stars that lived from the Ordovician to the Devonian.[1] Its fossils are known from Europe, North America and southern Africa.
Authentic fossilized Triceratops limb sections—typically sourced from the Late Cretaceous Hell Creek Formation in Montana or South Dakota—offer a tangible connection to the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 66 million years ago. These specimens range from small fragments (approx. 3 to 8 inches) up to massive 30-inch humerus bones
Comes with stand
Washington state
Pulalius (commonly Pulalius vulgaris) is a genus of fossil crab dating back to the Late Eocene epoch, approximately 35 million years ago. These well-preserved specimens are celebrated for their colorful shells that contrast naturally with the surrounding rock.
Washington state
Kem Kem Basin, Morocco
A Megalodon tooth in matrix is an exceptionally rare collector's specimen where a tooth from the largest shark to ever live remains naturally anchored inside the stone or hardened sediment where it fossilised.While millions of loose Megalodon teeth are recovered by divers from riverbeds and ocean floors, finding a tooth still locked in its original geological host rock ("matrix") is uncommon. These display pieces are highly prized because they preserve the exact environmental snapshot of the ancient seafloor where the giant predator shed its tooth millions of years ago.
Paleoarchean microbial mats are 3.3 to 3.5-billion-year-old fossilised sheets of microscopic life that represent the oldest definitive evidence of life on Earth.Discovered in pristine condition within the ancient volcanic and sedimentary rocks of Western Australia's Pilbara region, these ancient biological structures predated the dinosaurs by billions of years. They provide scientists with a direct window into how primitive organisms lived on a volatile, young Earth.
Late Cretaceous 66mya
Lance Creek formation
Weston County, Wyoming
Neoproterozoic- 850 to 950 mya
Katavskaya Formation, Karatau group
Inzer River, Assy village, Bashkortostan, Russia
Inzeria intia is a famous type of fossilised stromatolite that forms beautiful, swirling, column-like rock patterns.These fossils are roughly 800 to 850 million years old, dating all the way back to the Proterozoic Era long before complex animals or dinosaurs walked the Earth.
Conophyton basalticum is a rare, 500-million-year-old species of fossilised stromatolite uniquely known for growing on ancient volcanic terrain.Dating back to the Lower-to-Middle Cambrian Period, these fossils are highly unusual compared to most other stromatolites. Instead of forming standard rounded mounds in calm lime-rich seas, these microbial communities built sharply pointed, cone-shaped columns directly over cooled volcanic lava plains.
Pterochelus velificus (historically classified as Pterynotus velificus and accepted by some modern registries under the genus Timbellus) is an extinct species of prehistoric sea snail belonging to the family Muricidae, commonly known as murex or rock snails.First described by natural history scientist Ralph Tate in 1888, this fossilised gastropod is highly regarded by collectors for its beautifully complex, wing-like shell geometry.
Muddy Creek formation, Victoria Australia
Fossil sea snake vertebra
Morocco
Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian stage)
Javelina formation
Javelina Creek ranch, Brewster county, Texas
Eupatagus murrayensis (often misspelled as "murraysensus") is an extinct species of prehistoric heart urchin. These ancient echinoderms lived in the shallow marine environments of the Murray Basin during the Oligocene and Miocene epochs, roughly 5 to 23 million years ago.Quick Facts & Fossil CharacteristicsClassification: Belong to the order Spatangoida (heart urchins) and family Eupatagidae.Age: Early to Middle Miocene (approx. 23 - 15 million years old).Locations Found: Primarily excavated in the Mannum Formation along the Murray River in South Australia.Physical Traits: Like other spatangoids, E. murrayensis had an oval, bilaterally symmetrical, heart-shaped test (shell). They were covered in small, fine spines and possessed a "subanal fasciole" (a distinct band of tiny pores used for burrowing).Lifestyle: They were slow-moving deposit feeders that lived buried in the soft ocean floor sediments, filtering nutrients from the sand.
Mannum formation, Mannum, South Australia. Miocene 23 million years old.
An ammonite imprint in matrix (also known as a natural external mould or negative fossil) is the detailed rock impression left behind after an ancient ammonite shell dissolved over millions of years.Unlike fossils that feature the actual shell, these specimens preserve the precise spiral geometry, ribbed textures, and growth lines directly into the surrounding host stone, or "matrix". They offer an amazing, tactile look at how prehistoric sea life was packed into ocean sediment.
A fossilised trilobite in matrix is an ancient, extinct marine arthropod preserved entirely inside the original host rock (matrix) in which it was buried millions of years ago. Keeping the creature in its natural stone backing provides essential geological context, protects the delicate exoskeleton, and makes for a visually striking, three-dimensional display piece.
Sourced from Queensland 150cm
Late Cretaceous 70mya
Bear paw formation
St. Mary River Valley, SW Aiberta, Canada
Archaeocyatha (meaning "ancient cups") is an extinct group of vase-shaped marine sponges that built the planet's very first animal reefs.Thriving during the Early Cambrian Period roughly 525 to 510 million years ago, these organisms played a critical evolutionary role. They stepped up as the world's primary reef builders right as Earth's atmosphere and oceans experienced a massive surge in oxygen levels.
These items showcase Orthoceras, an extinct genus of prehistoric, straight-shelled marine cephalopods that hunted in Earth's oceans roughly 400 million years ago during the Ordovician period.
A nautilus fossil is the petrified shell of an ancient marine cephalopod that belongs to a lineage of ocean predators spanning over 500 million years of Earth's history.Famously known as "living fossils," ancient nautiluses survived multiple mass extinction events—including the cataclysm that wiped out the dinosaurs—and are still represented by a few living species in deep Indo-Pacific waters today.
A polished pyritized ammonite is a prehistoric marine fossil where the original shell has been chemically replaced by iron pyrite ("fool's gold"). Polishing one side reveals stunning, metallic growth chambers and sparkling druzy crystals hidden inside, offering a dramatic glimpse into Jurassic and Cretaceous oceans.
Sourced from Madagascar
Agathoxylon fossil wood from the Early Cretaceous Orallo Formation is a type of 130-million-year-old petrified conifer wood found near Chinchilla and Miles in Queensland, Australia.These ancient tree remains are famous among collectors and scientists for their beautiful, multi-coloured rings. When sliced and polished, they showcase pristine prehistoric cellular details
Spinosaurus (/ˌspaɪnəˈsɔːrəs/; lit. 'spine lizard') is a genus of large spinosaurid theropod dinosaurs that lived in what is now North Africa during the Cenomanian stage of the Late Cretaceous period, about 100 to 94 million years ago. The genus was known first from Egyptian remains discovered in 1912 and described by German palaeontologist Ernst Stromer in 1915. The original remains were destroyed in World War II, but additional material came to light in the early 21st century. It is unclear whether one or two species are represented in the fossils reported in the scientific literature. The type species, S. aegyptiacus, is mainly known from the Bahariya Formation in Egypt and the Kem Kem beds in Morocco. The other species, S. mirabilis, is known from the Farak Formation in Niger. Although another potential species, S. maroccanus, has been recovered from the Kem Kem beds, this dubious species is likely a junior synonym of S. aegyptiacus. Other possible junior synonyms include Sigilmassasaurus from the Kem Kem beds and Oxalaia from the Alcântara Formation in Brazil, though other researchers propose both genera to be distinct taxa.
Sourced from Morocco 100cm
An iridescent ammonoid (or ammonite) is a spectacular prehistoric fossil that gleams with shifting, metallic rainbow colours when held under light. Unlike specimens that are artificially enhanced, this glowing, opalescent effect is completely natural, created when the original "mother-of-pearl" shell layers are perfectly preserved over tens of millions of years.
The Plesiosauria or plesiosaurs are an order or clade of extinct Mesozoic marine reptiles, belonging to the Sauropterygia. Plesiosaurs first appeared in the latest Triassic Period, possibly in the Rhaetian stage, about 203 million years ago. They became especially common during the Jurassic Period, thriving until their disappearance due to the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event at the end of the Cretaceous Period, about 66 million years ago. They had a worldwide oceanic distribution, and some species at least partly inhabited freshwater environments.
Late Cretaceous 70-100 mya
A plesiosaur was a prehistoric, air-breathing marine reptile that ruled the global oceans during the Mesozoic Era, living from the Late Triassic to the Late Cretaceous period (around 220 to 66 million years ago). Though often mistaken for dinosaurs, plesiosaurs belong to a completely separate group of aquatic reptiles adapted for life in the open ocean, famously cruising the water using four massive, wing-like flippers.
Sourced from Madagascar
Late Cretaceous 95mya
Kem Kem beds, Taouz Morocco
Basilosaurus means 'king lizard' Basilosaurus isis was an enormous aquatic predator that lived during the Eocene Period, approximately 35 million years ago. With a name meaning 'king lizard,' Basilosaurus was misidentified by early researchers as a sea-going reptile.
Sourced from Morocco
Basilosaurus means 'king lizard' Basilosaurus isis was an enormous aquatic predator that lived during the Eocene Period, approximately 35 million years ago. With a name meaning 'king lizard,' Basilosaurus was misidentified by early researchers as a sea-going reptile.
Sourced from Morocco
Siroccopteryx is an extinct genus of anhanguerid pterodactyloid pterosaur which lived in Morocco during the Cenomanian stage of the Late Cretaceous. Some researchers, such as David M. Unwin, consider the genus a junior synonym of Coloborhynchus.
The genus was named and described in 1999 by Bryn Mader and Alexander Kellner. The name Siroccopteryx means "wing of the Sirocco", referring to the warm wind that originates in the North Africa and then goes through the Mediterranean, and the Greek word pteryx, a standard suffix for pterosaur genera that means "wing". The epithet of the type species S. moroccensis refers to its country of origin.
This pterosaur is known only from the front part of the jaw with teeth. The holotype fossil, LINHM 016 (Long Island Natural History Museum), was found near Ksar es Souk, in the province of Errachidia in the region of Meknes-Tafilalet at 30.4 ° N, 4.9 ° longitude (17.6 ° N, 4.2 ° W longitude) in Beg'aa, west of Hamada du Guiren in southeastern Morocco, in a layer of red sandstone, a fine-grained alluvium from the Albian to Cenomanian. It consists of front teeth and a snout that's not compressed. The muzzle was long and narrow, with a large elongated terminal part, along with some sort of shaped crest anterior keel higher than that of Anhanguera but not as high as that of Coloborhynchus or Tropeognathus. The teeth were sharp but short and more robust than in Anhanguera. The bone is rough and leathery, with strange marks of wrinkles and depressions, this may be a consequence of the conditions of preservation, but the descriptors suggest that indicate a disease, possibly caused by dental abscesses. According to André Veldmeijer, is probably that this damage was post-mortem and indicate the presence of a horn cover in the ridge.
The wingspan of this large pterosaur should be 4 to 5 meters (13 to 16 ft). It is likely that this animal was a specialized glider, and ventured into the sea off the coast of Africa, to capture fishes that swam near the surface.
Kem Kem Basin, Taouz, Morocco 1.41"
Late Miocene 13.8 to 16 mya
Pungo River Formation
North Carolina
Otodus megalodon (/ˈmɛɡələdɒn/ MEG-əl-ə-don; meaning "big tooth"), commonly known as megalodon, is an extinct species of giant mackerel shark that lived approximately 23 to 3.58 million years ago (Mya), from the Early Miocene to the Early Pliocene epochs. This prehistoric fish was once thought to be a member of the family Lamnidae and a close relative of the great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias), but has been reclassified into the extinct family Otodontidae, which diverged from the great white shark during the Early Cretaceous.
3.52" size
This is a detailed, 4.6" long fossil fish (Knightia eocaena) from Fossil Lake Safari quarry near Kemmerer, Wyoming. It comes from a specific bedding plane at the quarry that is referred to as the mud layer. It's a volcanic ash layer which contains a mass mortality of different fish.
Knightia is an extinct genus of small, schooling, ray-finned fish related to modern herrings and sardines. Abundant in the warm freshwater lakes of the Eocene Green River Formation, they fed on insects, plankton, and tiny fish, while serving as prey for nearly every larger predator in the ecosystem. The most common species, Knightia eocena, reached about 15 cm in length and is celebrated today as the state fossil of Wyoming.
These streamlined fish are recognized by their heavy scales, small conical teeth, and rows of dorsal and ventral scutes along the body. Their fossils are among the most iconic from the Green River Formation—an exceptional 48-million-year-old lake deposit in Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah known for preserving a remarkably detailed snapshot of ancient life in a warm, lake-rich Eocene landscape.
50 million years ago, in the Eocene epoch, these fish thrived in Fossil Lake, which was fed by the Uinta and Rocky Mountain highlands. The anoxic conditions at the bottom of Fossil Lake slowed bacterial decomposition, prevented scavengers from disturbing corpses, and, most interestingly, suffocated creatures that ventured into the oxygen-starved aquatic layer. The result is a miraculous exhibition of Eocene biota: a subtropical aquatic community within sycamore forests, teeming with creatures such as freshwater stingrays, dog-sized horses, menacing alligators, early flying bats, and one of the first primates.
Eocene era
I love this so much!!! The detail is amazing for something so old. I love fossils, and I hope this will help somebody feel what I do about these incredible time capsules into geological time.
Knightia eocaena is an extinct species of small, schooling freshwater fish related to modern herrings. Living roughly 40 to 50 million years ago during the Eocene epoch, they are exclusively found in the remarkably preserved limestone deposits of the Green River Formation in Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah.
Size: Averaging 10 to 15 centimeters (4 to 6 inches) in length, K. eocaena is the largest of the three known Knightia species, capable of growing up to 25 centimeters.Diet: They fed on plankton, insects, and tiny fish, using their gill rakers and small conical teeth.Ecosystem Role: As a highly abundant schooling fish, they served as the primary food source for larger Eocene predators like Diplomystus, Mioplosus, and Phareodus.
Green River Formation, Fossil Lake safari quarry, Wyoming
Devonian
Western Sahara, Morocco
Late Cretaceous 66 mya
Hell Creek formation
Montana
Euzonosoma tischbeinianum is an extinct species of brittlestar (class Ophiuroidea) that existed approximately 380 million years ago during the Lower Devonian period. Famous for its exquisite preservation in the Bundenbach (Hunsrück) slate of Germany, these fossils are often naturally replaced with iron pyrite ("fool's gold")
It belongs to the order Oegophiurida and the family Encrinasteridae.Origin: Specimens are exclusively found in the Hunsrück Slate near Bundenbach, Germany—a geological region renowned for preserving soft-part anatomy.Locomotion: Unlike modern brittlestars that use muscular movements to "walk" across the sea floor, E. tischbeinianum utilized a form of podial walking (moving with their tube feet) due to the distinct structure of their arm ossicles.Preservation: The slate creates stunning visual contrast. Because the quarries for roofing slate have been closed for decades, these pyritized specimens are increasingly rare and sought-after by collectors.
Hunsrűck Slate
Bundenbach, Germany
Aturia is an extinct genus of Paleocene to Miocene nautilids within Aturiidae, a monotypic family, established by Campman in 1857 for Aturia Bronn, 1838, and is included in the superfamily Nautilaceae in Kümmel 1964.
Aturia is characterized by a smooth, highly involute, discoidal shell with a complex suture and subdorsal siphuncle. The shell of Aturia is rounded ventrally and flattened laterally; the dorsum is deeply impressed. The suture, one of the most complex in the Nautiloidea, has a broad flattened ventral saddle, narrow pointed lateral lobes, broad rounded lateral saddles, broad lobes on the dorso-umbilical slopes, and a broad dorsal saddle divided by a deep, narrow median lobe. The siphuncle is moderate in size and located subdorsally in the adapical dorsal flexture of the septum. Based on the feeding and hunting behaviors of living nautiluses, Aturia most likely preyed upon small fish and crustaceans.
Dhakia region, Morocco
Eocene
Saw shark Rostral spine
Huarra formation. Antofagasta, Chile.
Pristiophorus lanceolatus is an extinct species of sawshark that lived during the Cenozoic era (ranging from the Eocene to the Pleistocene epoch). Known primarily through its fossilized rostral spines and teeth, this ancient predator likely reached lengths of around 1.4 meters and used its elongated, saw-like snout to hunt.
An Otodus obliquus tooth is a highly prized fossil from a massive, extinct mackerel shark that lived roughly 60 to 40 million years ago during the Paleocene and Eocene epochs. As the earliest known ancestor of the legendary Otodus megalodon, its teeth serve as a fascinating connection to the dawn of the "megatooth" shark lineage.
Khourbga, Morocco
50-55 mya
Hemipristis curvatus is an extinct species of weasel shark which existed during the Eocene epoch. It was described by Dames in 1883.
New Bern, North Carolina USA
34-36 MYA
HEXANCHUS COLLINSONAE
Etymology -M. E. Collinson's Hexanchus
Species- Hexanchus collinsonae
Location- Europe
Diet- Carnivorous
56 mya- Nanjemoy Formation (Fisher-Sullivan bone bed)
Hexanchus collinsonae (named after M. E. Collinson) is a species of prehistoric shark that was found in the Eocene London Clay beds. It is a member of the family Hexanchidae.
Extinct sand Tiger/Goblin shark.
Lower Demopolis formation-Mississippi USA
Scapanorhynchus had an elongated, flattened snout and sharp awl-shaped teeth ideal for seizing fish or tearing chunks of flesh from its prey. Scapanorhynchus normally did not exceed a total length of 4.15 metres (13.6 ft), although the largest teeth with height about 6 centimetres (0.20 ft) indicate an upper total length of 6.7 metres (22 ft).
Their extreme similarities to the living goblin shark, Mitsukurina owstoni, lead some experts to consider reclassifying it as Scapanorhynchus owstoni. However, most shark specialists regard the goblin shark to be distinct enough from its prehistoric relatives to merit placement in its own genus.
75 MYA Late Cretaceous (Campanian)
Extinct sand Tiger/Goblin shark.
Lower Demopolis formation-Mississippi USA
Scapanorhynchus had an elongated, flattened snout and sharp awl-shaped teeth ideal for seizing fish or tearing chunks of flesh from its prey. Scapanorhynchus normally did not exceed a total length of 4.15 metres (13.6 ft), although the largest teeth with height about 6 centimetres (0.20 ft) indicate an upper total length of 6.7 metres (22 ft).
Their extreme similarities to the living goblin shark, Mitsukurina owstoni, lead some experts to consider reclassifying it as Scapanorhynchus owstoni. However, most shark specialists regard the goblin shark to be distinct enough from its prehistoric relatives to merit placement in its own genus.
75 MYA Late Cretaceous (Campanian)
For other uses, see Megalodon (disambiguation).
Otodus megalodon (/ˈmɛɡələdɒn/ MEG-əl-ə-don; meaning "big tooth"), commonly known as megalodon, is an extinct species of giant mackerel shark that lived approximately 23 to 3.58 million years ago (Mya), from the Early Miocene to the Early Pliocene epochs. This prehistoric fish was once thought to be a member of the family Lamnidae and a close relative of the great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias), but has been reclassified into the extinct family Otodontidae, which diverged from the great white shark during the Early Cretaceous.
While regarded as one of the largest and most powerful predators to have ever lived, megalodon is only known from fragmentary remains, and its appearance and maximum size are uncertain. Scientists have argued whether its body form was more stocky or elongated than the modern lamniform sharks. Maximum body length estimates between 16.1 and 24.3 metres (53 and 80 ft) based on various analyses have been proposed, though the modal lengths for individuals of all ontogenetic stages from juveniles to adults are estimated at 10.5 meters (34 ft). Their teeth were thick and robust, built for grabbing prey and breaking bone, and their large jaws could exert a bite force of up to 108,500 to 182,200 newtons (24,390 to 40,960 lbf).
Megalodon probably had a major impact on the structure of marine communities. The fossil record indicates that it had a cosmopolitan distribution. It probably targeted large prey, such as whales, seals and sea turtles. Juveniles inhabited warm coastal waters and fed on fish and small whales. Unlike the great white, which attacks prey from the soft underside, megalodon probably used its strong jaws to break through the chest cavity and puncture the heart and lungs of its prey.
The animal faced competition from whale-eating cetaceans, such as Livyatan and other macroraptorial sperm whales and possibly smaller ancestral killer whales (Orcinus), although the inclusion of early Orcinus as a direct competitor is uncertain, as species such as Orcinus citoniensis were likely adapted for feeding on small fish and cephalopods rather than large marine mammals. As the shark preferred warmer waters, it is thought that oceanic cooling associated with the onset of the ice ages, coupled with the lowering of sea levels and resulting loss of suitable nursery areas, may have also contributed to its decline. A reduction in the diversity of baleen whales and a shift in their distribution toward polar regions may have reduced megalodon's primary food source. The shark's extinction coincides with a gigantism trend in baleen whales.
Squalicorax was a medium-sized shark, typically measuring about 1.8–3 metres (5.9–9.8 ft) long. The largest specimen of S. pristodontus, SDSM 47683, was significantly larger, measuring up to 4.8 metres (16 ft) long.
Their bodies were similar to the modern gray reef sharks, but the shape of the teeth is strikingly similar to that of a tiger shark.[citation needed] The teeth are numerous, relatively small, with a curved crown and serrated, up to 2.5–3 cm (0.98–1.18 in) in height. Large numbers of fossil teeth have been found in Europe, North Africa, and North America. Squalicorax is one of three Cretaceous lamniformes to garner serrations along with Pseudocorax and Galeocorax. The world's largest and most complete semi-articulated fossil of Squalicorax was found in 2014 in stores of the Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre in Morden, Manitoba, in Canada, where it is now displayed. It measures more than 3 m in length.[
Squalicorax was a coastal predator and scavenger, as evidenced by a Squalicorax tooth found embedded in the metatarsal (foot) bone of a terrestrial hadrosaurid dinosaur that most likely died on land and ended up in the water.[6] Other food sources included sea turtles, mosasaurs, ichthyodectid fish, and other marine life. Tooth marks from this shark have also been found on the bones of Pteranodon, but whether the shark actively snatched such large pterosaurs out of the air, attacked them as they dove after prey, or were simply scavenging is not known.
Queensland Zem- Ouled Abdoun Basin, Morocco. Cretaceous period 66 mya
Another beginner piece, these vary in size between 70cm to 50cm. There will be a lot more available soon, and once I tweak the site there will be information, location and timelines available for all fossils
Cretaceous-95 mya
Xixia Basin, China
The Pygurus marmonti is an extinct genus of prehistoric marine invertebrates, often classified as an ancient sand dollar or a flat, burrowing sea urchin. These fossils are highly sought after by collectors for their striking five-pointed star (pentameral) pattern and beautiful preservation.
Geological Age: Late Jurassic Period, approximately 150 million years ago.Habitat: These echinoids lived in warm, shallow marine environments, slowly moving and feeding while buried under soft seafloor sand or mud.Origin: The vast majority of Pygurus marmonti fossils on the market are sourced from the Sakaraha and Majanga regions of Madagascar.Appearance: They generally range between 50 to 90 mm in diameter. Fossils are frequently polished on the top side to accentuate their delicate internal structural details and natural symmetry.
Sakaraha, Madagascar
Petrified wood is a fossil formed when prehistoric plant material is buried in sediment and replaced by minerals—primarily silica, like quartz and chalcedony—over millions of years. This slow process preserves the original tree's cellular structure, growth rings, and bark, effectively turning wood into stone.
Petrified wood is a fossil formed when prehistoric plant material is buried in sediment and replaced by minerals—primarily silica, like quartz and chalcedony—over millions of years. This slow process preserves the original tree's cellular structure, growth rings, and bark, effectively turning wood into stone.
Petrified fern is a rare and highly prized fossil that forms when prehistoric tree ferns are preserved through the process of permineralization. Unlike standard petrified wood from ancient pine or oak trees, petrified ferns feature intricate, lace-like internal patterns created by the plant’s unique root jacket and vascular bundles.Because ancient tree ferns did not have solid wood trunks, their structures reveal stunning horseshoe-shaped or speckled patterns when sliced and polished.
Petrified wood is a fossil formed when ancient plant material is buried in sediment and minerals (like silica or quartz) gradually replace organic matter. This preserves the wood's cellular structure and rings in stone over millions of years.Key Geological & Formation FactsThe Process: Known as permineralization, mineral-rich groundwater flows through the buried wood, replacing cell walls with inorganic crystals.Colors & Hues: Minerals dictate the color; iron oxides create reds and browns, while manganese yields blues, purples, and blacks.Hardness: Because it is primarily composed of quartz, petrified wood typically rates a 6 to 7 on the Mohs hardness scale.Age: Specimens found today mostly date from the Paleozoic to the Mesozoic Eras, ranging from 40 million to over 200 million years old.
This is a .98" long tyrannosaur tooth from the genus Nanotyrannus, collected from the Hell Creek Formation in Montana. The enamel is weathered across the majority of the crown, though small areas of serrations remained preserved along both edges.
Nanotyrannus is a controversial theropod dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of North America, known from a small number of fossils including the famous skull “Jane.” It was a relatively small, lightly built predator—about 15–20 feet long—with long legs, a narrow snout, and sharp teeth, suggesting speed and agility compared to the massive Tyrannosaurus rex. What makes Nanotyrannus especially intriguing is the debate over whether it represents a distinct genus or is simply a juvenile T. rex, with differences in skull shape, tooth count, and bone structure fueling ongoing discussion among paleontologists.
The tooth comes with a small acrylic display case.
Mosasaurs are not dinosaurs because they belong to an entirely different branch of the reptile family tree. While dinosaurs were terrestrial (land-dwelling) creatures, mosasaurs were fully aquatic marine reptiles closely related to modern snakes and monitor lizards.
During the last 20 million years of the Cretaceous period (Turonian–Maastrichtian ages), with the extinction of the ichthyosaurs and pliosaurs, mosasaurids became the dominant marine predators. They themselves became extinct as a result of the K-Pg event at the end of the Cretaceous period, about 66 million years ago
Mosasaurs breathed air, were powerful swimmers, and were well-adapted to living in the warm, shallow inland seas prevalent during the Late Cretaceous period. Mosasaurs were so well adapted to this environment that they most likely gave birth to live young, rather than returning to the shore to lay eggs as sea turtles do.
The smallest-known mosasaur was Dallasaurus turneri, which was less than 1 m (3.3 ft) long. Larger mosasaurs were more typical, with many species growing longer than 4 m (13 ft). Mosasaurus hoffmannii, the largest known species reached up to 17 m (56 ft),[3] but it has been considered to be probably overestimated by Cleary et al. (2018).
Mosasaurs had a body shape similar to that of modern-day monitor lizards (varanids), but were more elongated and streamlined for swimming. Their limb bones were reduced in length and their paddles were formed by webbing between their long finger and toe bones. Their tails were broad and laterally compressed, terminating in a fluke-like structure that served as the primary source of propulsion.
Until recently, mosasaurs were assumed to have swum in a method similar to the one used today by conger eels and sea snakes, undulating their entire bodies from side to side. However, new evidence suggests that many advanced mosasaurs had large, crescent-shaped flukes on the ends of their tails, similar to those of sharks and some ichthyosaurs. Rather than use snake-like undulations, their bodies probably remained stiff to reduce drag through the water, while their tails provided strong propulsion. These animals may have lurked and pounced rapidly and powerfully on passing prey, rather than chasing after it. At least some species were also capable of aquaflight, flapping their flippers like sea lions.
While regarded as one of the largest and most powerful predators to have ever lived, megalodon is only known from fragmentary remains, and its appearance and maximum size are uncertain. Scientists have argued whether its body form was more stocky or elongated than the modern lamniform sharks. Maximum body length estimates between 16.1 and 24.3 metres (53 and 80 ft) based on various analyses have been proposed, though the modal lengths for individuals of all ontogenetic stages from juveniles to adults are estimated at 10.5 meters (34 ft). Their teeth were thick and robust, built for grabbing prey and breaking bone, and their large jaws could exert a bite force of up to 108,500 to 182,200 newtons (24,390 to 40,960 lbf).
Fragmentary serated specimen from Antwerp, Belgium. This one was from the Miocene, 14 to 5.6 mya.
A good starter for fossil enthusiasts or children wanting to start collecting. Whilst this is quite a good specimen, I've no information about it, so it's cheap!
Cretaceous- 67 mya
Buyers, Madhya Pradesh, India.
An agatized gastropod is a fossilized ancient snail or mollusk (class Gastropoda) where the original organic shell has been replaced over millions of years by microcrystalline quartz, such as agate or chalcedony. This mineralization preserves intricate shell details and often forms stunning internal patterns, banding, or crystal vugs.Key CharacteristicsFormation: Occurs through silicification, where silica-rich groundwater replaces the carbonate of the original shell, turning the once-fragile fossil into a highly durable gemstone.Visual Appeal: Often translucent or semi-translucent with yellowish-golden, white, or brown banding. When cut and polished, many reveal hidden druzy quartz pockets or hollow "geode" centers.Age: These fossils can range drastically in age, from Jurassic to Eocene periods (roughly 34 to 100 million years old).Locations: While found globally, some of the most famous and beautifully preserved agatized gastropods are sourced from the Sahara Desert region in Morocco and the coasts of Madagascar.