Ammonites were keystone taxa associated with Palaeozoic and Mesozoic marine environments.  They were both geographically and temporally diverse.  Ammonites and their ancestors inhabited the Earth’s oceans for over three hundred and fifty million years.  Ammonite fossils are easy to recognise, and a scientifically accurate toy ammonite model can bring their story to life.

Models of ammonites are often used in museum displays to help visitors to understand more about these cephalopods.

The Bullyland ammonite model is often used in museum displays to depict the living animal next to fossil material. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The model in the image above is the Bullyland ammonite.  This figure has received praise from science communicators.  It helps to provide an idea of the life appearance of these animals.

To view the range of Bullyland models and figures in stock: Bullyland Prehistoric Animal Models.

Accurate Toy Ammonite Models

These figures spark interest and curiosity. Adults and children ask, “What was this creature?” It’s the first step towards learning about these remarkable prehistoric animals.  When holding a model you connect with deep time. A plastic model is a portal to prehistoric marine environments.  An accurate toy ammonite model reflects the fossil record.  Ammonite soft tissue preservation is rare.  These figures provide information on the creature that inhabited the shell.

A selection of ammonite fossils to be used in an exercise exploring the role of index fossils with science students. Fossil ammonites are familiar, however, what was the creature actually like? Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Helping to Educate

Ammonite and other prehistoric animal models are helpful science education tools.  Ammonites died out along with the non-avian dinosaurs around 66 million years ago.  However, some taxa did survive into the early Cenozoic according to some researchers.

To read a blog post from 2014 which references ammonite survival into the Palaeocene Epoch: Unravelling an Ammonite Mystery.

 Illustrating extinct animals opens conversations about climate change, extinction and conservation.

Mike from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“Home educators, palaeontologists, researchers, schools and museums are supplied with these figures.  They help provide a tangible impression of what ammonites looked like.  Ammonite toys add context to lessons about ancient life, fossils and geology. Moreover, they help the wider public to make a connection between the rocks and a living animal.”

Many toy ammonite figures are designed in collaboration with invertebrate palaeontologists.  They help to inform and educate. A toy ammonite model is more than a replica. It is a pathway to understanding science.

In a child’s hand or on a collector’s shelf, it keeps the ammonite story alive. And that’s powerful.

The award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Prehistoric Animal Models and Toys.