Story: Fossils

Giant ammonite (1st of 3)

Giant ammonite

This giant ammonite, Lytoceras taharoaense, is 1.42 metres in diameter and weighs 1,200 kilograms. It was discovered in February 1977 by Jean Gyles of Wellington at Taharoa, 10 kilometres south of Kāwhia Harbour on the Waikato Coast, in a small roadside slip. Excavation took several attempts, with the final chunk recovered in April 1978. It is late Jurassic in age (around 140 million years ago).

This fossil is part of the GNS Science National Paleontological Collection and is on display at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.

Using this item

GNS Science
Reference: CN34111/07

Permission of GNS Science must be obtained before any use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Hamish Campbell, 'Fossils - Age of the dinosaurs – Mesozoic', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/9853/giant-ammonite (accessed 25 April 2024)

Story by Hamish Campbell, published 12 Jun 2006