SP012 - FOSSIL CRETACEOUS SPONGE "REEF" OF 3 CAMPANIAN-ERA FULLY INFLATED SEA SPONGES OF DIFFERENT SPECIES

Product Description

ITEM # 

SP012

ID

Phymatella sp., Ventriculites radiatus, Verruculina tenuis

FOUND

North Central Germany

AGE

UPPER CRETACEOUS:  83.5 - 71.3 million years ago

SIZE

3.75" - 1.5" high without stand

CONDITION

NO REPAIR OR RESTORATION

NOTE

STUNNING AND RARE 3D LIFE-LIKE
PREHISTORIC SEA SPONGE FROM THE
DINOSAUR DAYS.  THREE DIFFERENT TYPES. 

INCLUDES STAND - Actual Item - One Only

Comes with a certificate of authenticity / information sheet

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A very rare occurrence can be found in a unique Cretaceous fossil deposit in North Central Germany.  A variety of highly unusual SEA SPONGE FOSSILS dating from a Campanian Era sea of the Cretaceous were preserved in FULL THREE DIMENSIONAL PRESERVATION retaining delicate anatomy seldom seen in prehistoric sponge fossils.  The sponges found in this deposit comprise a very diverse breadth of anatomical varieties and nearly 180 different species.  The fossils are found embedded in limestone host rock and were dug from subterranean deposits therefore, they were not exposed to the harsh elements and show no typical erosion or degradation of detail like so many sponge fossils of similar 3D preservation.  These specific fossil sponges are so bizarre because the best specimens are completely lifelike with full three-dimensional preservation looking as if they were alive seconds ago before being turned to stone.  We acquired a limited, old private collection of the finest specimens from the original excavator.  When they are all gone, it is doubtful we will ever have this quality of sponge fossils to offer again.

The majority of the sponges we acquired are free from their matrix and show minute surface detail of all relative anatomy including the osculum (little mouth at top where the water was expelled), pores, pustules, bumps, internal chambers when broken, stem, signs of prehistoric predator damage incurred with once alive and in some cases, additional prehistoric life-forms attached to the outer surface.  The color is natural white from the limestone with variations due to trace minerals. 

This is an aesthetic prehistoric sea sponge "reef" of three different species of sponges all found together in what was once a massive sponge reef on the bottom of a Cretaceous sea.  The central large sponge is a Verruculina tenuis and it displays rare internal pore anatomy as seen above.  Microcrystalline pyrite covers a small portion of the outer surface.  The sponge to the right is a Ventriculites radiatus and the sponge on the left is a Phymatella sp. which has part of the upper body missing, allowing a peek into the fully preserved inner anatomy.  The variety of these sponges displayed together recreate what a prehistoric sponge reef would have looked like with a fascinating mix of a broad range of species all thriving side by side on the ocean floor.  A custom stand holds the sponges which are mounted to rods to allow the sponges to stand in the same position as they were when once alive.  NO REPAIR OR FABRICATION!  Extremely rare in this quality and with our highest recommendation for the ultimate in invertebrate marine life from the final days of the dinosaurs such as T. rex!!

Regardless of your interests in fossil collecting, one cannot help being totally fascinated to be able to witness a fully preserved, life-like sponge in complete inflated form from the Cretaceous seas.  You could make latex molds of the different varieties found at this locality and make casts that could be used in 100% accurate Cretaceous marine dioramas!   If you could go back in time to the days of dinosaurs like  Tyrannosaurus rex and dive into the ocean, this is some of the amazing ocean life you would witness!   The state of preservation of these sponge fossils is nothing short of breath-taking!  The vast majority of fossil sponges in the world are very, very poorly preserved and mostly represented by only fragments or badly eroded by elements.  These sponges are unlike anything else we have ever encountered and their supply is extremely limited from this one, single locality.  Once all of our limited collection are sold, it is likely you will never see such a realistic and phenomenal state of preservation in a fossilized sponge ever again!