Spiral Gastropod
This fossil is a 54 million year old gastropod, also known as a snail or slug. The family of Gastropods make up one of the most diverse collections of species, second only to insects. It is estimated that there are around 24,000 species of terrestrial gastropods, about 35,000 aquatic species, and 15,000 extinct species.
One gastropod displayed in an acrylic case.
Diameter: 0.5"-1"
GASTROPOD
This fossil is a 54 million year old gastropod, also known as a snail or slug. The family of Gastropods make up one of the most diverse collections of species, second only to insects. It is estimated that there are around 24,000 species of terrestrial gastropods, about 35,000 aquatic species, and 15,000 extinct species. This shell is fossilized, but more specifically it has been agatized, meaning it’s cells have been replace primarily with microgranular quartz.
INTERESTING PROPERTIES
• This fossil has been dated to the Eocene period, but the specific species is still unknown.
• Gastropods are among the longest surviving lineages, the earliest fossils dating to the Cambrian Period about 500 million years ago.