'I'm an Ammonite' by Tymn Lintell

About "'I'm an Ammonite'"

by Tymn Lintell

About the artwork

At over 100 million years old this tiny little creature probably started life in Madagascar before being discovered on a beach in Dorset UK.

Ammonites are extinct marine mollusks that belonged to the cephalopod class, closely related to modern-day squids, octopuses, and nautiluses. They first appeared around 400 million years ago and thrived in various aquatic environments until their extinction around 66 million years ago. Ammonites had a distinctive spiral shell, often resembling tightly coiled rams' horns, with intricate chambers separated by walls called septa. These chambers were used for buoyancy control and housing the animal's soft body. Ammonites were skilled swimmers, using jet propulsion by expelling water through a funnel.

Millions of years ago, ammonites swam in the ancient seas around Madagascar, leaving behind a legacy in fossilised form. Fast forward to today, a parallel tale unfolds on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset, UK.

This iconic coastline, a geological marvel, unveils a rich history spanning over 180 million years. Fossilised ammonites, akin to those from Madagascar, grace Dorset's shores, evidence of prehistoric marine life. As waves sculpt the cliffs, the Jurassic Coast whispers stories of ammonite-filled seas, connecting continents across time. From the Indian Ocean to the English Channel, these ancient cephalopods continue to narrate Earth's profound journey through the ages.