This polished Phylloceras ammonite from Madagascar displays intricate cream and honey-coloured patterns against a rich brown background. Its rounded spiral and glossy finish make it an eye-catching fossil for a collection, shelf or cabinet.
The branching markings are suture patterns, tracing where the ammonite’s internal chamber walls met the outer shell. Polishing reveals these delicate outlines, bringing out their contrast with the surrounding fossil.
At the open end, sculpted “cat’s paw” detailing adds a distinctive finishing touch. This shaped feature is part of the specimen’s preparation, rather than the ammonite’s original shell opening.
