Paleozoo Ammonite

[Paleozoo]

Ammonite - a Paleozoo evolutionary model.

An extinct marine mollusc of the class Cephalopodia from the late Paleozoic Era. It typically
had a ribbed spiral-form shell that encased soft body parts and a hardened beak.  Ammonites
had a wide dispersion and their remains have been found in large numbers around the world.
To date no trace fossil has been found of the soft body parts of an ammonite but they are
believed to have been similar in anatomy to modern cephalopods such as squid.

https://youtu.be/_hPPw2A0kIw

Ammonites were able to move widely through the water column using a combination of buoyancy
adjustment and siphoned jet propulsion to control their movement.  The buoyancy was created by
filling and emptying the chambers (camera) of the shell with water via a feature called the siphuncle.
Propulsion was created by squirting water through an organ similar to the extant cephalopod hypernome.

Ammonites are thought to have been predators and to have been adept at gliding across seabeds
using their arms and tentacles to grab prey as it passed by.  If attacked themselves they could pull back
into the hardened shell and close down a leathery mantle. This dual ability to hunt and protect themselves
proved very effective as ammonites survived for over 300 million years.

Paleozoo aims to provide an outline of Palaeozoic evolution - expressed in a series of short
animations and a collection of museum-grade lifeform models.

Further information and models available for sale at Paleozoo.com.au

[Neosodon]

Does ma stand for million years ago? Usually I see it abbreviated as mya.

[Paleozoo]

That's a good question.

I'd always thought that mya was the abbreviation but more recently found out that it's now supposed to be ma.

I may be wrong about that and it would be good to know definitively - as I've slowly been changing the abbreviation through the Paleozoo website and product materials.

[Halichoeres]

In scientific articles, I see "Ma" almost exclusively. I am not sure how that came to be the convention, but it definitely is the convention.

[Minmiminime]

Another stunning all-round package! True museum and documentary quality. They're a joy to see! I hope museums take notice. Keep up the great work!

[Bucklander]

In scientific articles, I see "Ma" almost exclusively. I am not sure how that came to be the convention, but it definitely is the convention.

Ma is an abbreviation for Mega annum (or Mega annie), Ga, giga annum etc.

[Halichoeres]

In scientific articles, I see "Ma" almost exclusively. I am not sure how that came to be the convention, but it definitely is the convention.

Ma is an abbreviation for Mega annum (or Mega annie), Ga, giga annum etc.

Well, that makes sense then!