Prehistoric Ammonite

 The Inspiration:         

          Ammonoids (commonly, but colloquially, known as ammonites) were a type of prehistoric cephalopod related to todays nautiloids. While they all followed a similar body plan of a (usually spiral shaped) shell and an octopus like body, there was still a ton of diversity. Like trilobites, there were many, many species, which survived for millions of years. Also like trilobites, ammonoids are often used as references to tell how old a fossil is.

 The Set    

          So for this set I have finally completed a project that I have been wanting to build since the time of the ammonites! This is actually only the third or fourth time that I have figured out a workable design for the shell, and only the second one that I have successfully turned it into a full ammonite*. This is actually the most realistic AND the largest one that I have ever made. The piece count is 1,399 pieces, and I estimate that, with the display stand (which IS part of the set), the dimensions of the set are about 1 1/4 foot long by 10 inches wide. The appendages (if there are any marine biologists/paleontologists reading this, what were their appendages called?) are all posable, but I put them in the position of grasping a trilobite for food. The base includes seaweed pieces, prehistoric corals/sponges, two bivalves (clams), a crustacean, and lots of fish 

          I think that the above model would make a great set because ammonites (ammonoids) are actually one of the surprisingly few prehistoric ocean animals that lots of people have heard of. I have done quite a bit of research myself, but anyone else reading this likely has never heard of Dunkleosteus, eurypterids, Opibinia regalis, Pikaia gracilens, or several others. My point is, this model should be made a set because I hope it will cause more people to want to learn about the more obscure prehistoric aquatic animals, not just the big, famous marine reptiles such as the mosasaurs. As I said earlier, I built this just because of a long term obsession with doing so. 

*My first completed one can be found in my Animals of the Cambrian project.