Chile seizes more than 200 fossils of extinct mollusks
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Chile seizes more than 200 fossils of extinct mollusks

reuters.com • • world

Key Points:

  • Chilean customs officials seized over 200 ammonite fossils hidden in a shipping container from Madagascar, which was declared as carrying household ornaments.
  • The ammonites, dating back approximately 110 million years, were found wrapped in newspapers and magazines from Madagascar inside a container shipped via China.
  • Ammonites are extinct mollusks related to octopuses and squids, wiped out during the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event around 66 million years ago.
  • Specialists from the San Antonio Museum of Natural History in Chile verified the fossils' authenticity.
  • Chilean authorities have contacted Madagascar’s government to confirm the fossils' origin and discuss potential repatriation.

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