Black Marble & Belemnite Bookend

Belemnite (“Dart or Javelin”)

Timeline: Jurassic - Cretaceous (201 - 66 million years ago)
Size: 4 - 5 metres in length
Range: Found Worldwide
Habitat: littoral (nearshore) and mid-shelf zones
Diet: Carnivore

Belemnites were marine cephalopods, related to modern day squids & cuttlefish. They had a squid-like body but, unlike modern squid, they had a hard bullet-shaped internal skeleton made of calcite. This skeleton, or guard, is what is mostly commonly found as fossils. 

The largest belemnite fossil known comes from Indonesia. It is about 46 cm long; the animal itself must have been 4-5 m long. In contrast, one of the smallest belemnites, Neohibolites minimus, has a rostrum only about three centimetres long. 

Belemnites most likely had a diet like modern squids and cuttlefish, e.g. of fishes, crustaceans, and other cephalopods. Belemnites became extinct during the mass extinction event that killed the dinosaurs at the end of the Cretaceous 65 million years ago.

During the mediaeval period, when people were first discovering the strange bullet shaped fossils of belemnites, it was believed that belemnites were thunderbolts which had been turned into stone after crashing to earth.

These pair of beautiful book ends have been carved from polished marble containing fossilised Belemnites (150 million years old).

Belemnites were marine cephalopods, related to modern day squids & cuttlefish. They had a squid-like body but, unlike modern squid, they had a hard bullet-shaped internal skeleton, or “guard”, made of calcite. This skeleton, or guard, is what is mostly commonly found as fossils. During the mediaeval period, when people were first discovering the strange bullet shaped fossils of belemnites, it was believed that belemnites were thunderbolts which had been turned into stone after crashing to earth.

Each piece has been cut and hand-polished by expert artisans to enhance their unique natural beauty and create a beautiful glossy finish. Whether they are displayed together as a collection or individually on their own, these luxury ornaments are the perfect addition to any Naturalist’s bookshelf. 

Belemnites were marine cephalopods, related to modern day squids & cuttlefish. They had a squid-like body but, unlike modern squid, they had a hard bullet-shaped internal skeleton, or “guard”, made of calcite. This skeleton is what is mostly commonly found as fossils, and what can be seen here. During the mediaeval period it was believed that these imprints in the rocks were thunderbolts which had been turned to stone. Belemnites became extinct during the mass extinction event that killed the dinosaurs at the end of the Cretaceous 65 million years ago.

Dimensions: 17 x 10 x 6cm

We work closely with reputable suppliers all over the world to source high quality, genuine specimens. Each fossil comes with a certificate of authenticity documenting the provenance of each specimen, including the age and location where it was discovered.