520 – 0 million years old
Shells are nature’s protective armor, designed to safeguard the soft-bodied animals that inhabit them. Unlike humans and many other creatures that rely on internal skeletons for support and protection, these animals depend on their shells for survival. Shells provide a crucial defense against predators and environmental challenges. This week, we’re highlighting animals without skeletons, whose reliance on their shells is vital for their existence.
The history of shells dates back over 750 million years. The first shells were much smaller than those we see today, measuring only a few millimeters in size. These ancient shells likely belonged to only a few species, marking the early stages of evolution for these protective structures. Over millions of years, shells have evolved into the diverse and intricate forms we now admire in nature and fossils.
In our fossil webshop, we offer a remarkable collection of fossilized shells from around the world. Our selection includes specimens from Belgium, Australia, New Zealand, and, of course, the Netherlands. Each fossil shell tells a unique story, offering a glimpse into the ancient past and the diverse marine life that once thrived on Earth.
