Polished Nautilus Shell in Matrix

This well preserved specimen is over 120 Million years old, and has been prepped and polished to be a very unique display piece.

This fossil was discovered in Nigeria near the Cameroon Border

The Nautilus' shell is made of isolated chambers, Nautilus are born with 4 chambers and build new chambers through time. Grown-up nautilus have more than 30 chambers.  The creature (looking like a little octopus) lives in the newest chamber, which is also the biggest. The other chambers are filled with air and water to control buoyancy. A tube called the siphuncle goes through each chamber and is used to pass liquid and gas from one chamber to the other. The gas is initially diluted in liquid in one chamber and bubbles out when released in a second low pressure chamber. Just like opening a can of soda.

A custom stand is available for this item.