Aturia cf. alabamensis
Lower Oligocene
Washington, USA

90mm Aturia with body chamber from the lower Oligocene to upper Eocene exposures along the N.W. coast of Washington State. Extremely rare.

Aturia cf. alabamensis is a beautifully coiled Oligocene nautiloid, dating back around 30 million years. Its smooth, disc-like shell and intricate suture patterns reflect a streamlined design for life in warm, shallow seas. Unlike modern nautiluses, Aturia had a more compressed shell, likely making it a faster swimmer. Fossils of this species are rare, especially in well-preserved form, and offer valuable insight into the last thriving lineages of ancient shelled cephalopods before their decline. A true relic of the post-dinosaur oceans.