Andrew Vik
Tampa, FL., USA
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Sarah:
 
Apparently, these specimens have been removed from display sometime since 1973.
What a shame! Though I had a small shell collection at that age (13), I had no
idea of the vast fossil history of the mollusks. I was there to see the dinosaur
skeletons (which were also superb). At the present time, I can't remember even a
single erected dinosaur species that was on display, but I remember those hugh
ammonites!
 
Andrew
 
Sarah Watson wrote:
 
> > >The Smithsonian has, or at least it used to have, some of
>  the giant coiled forms on display. < <
>
> Yes they still do. I was just down there on friday afternoon walking through
> the exhibit on my way to class and stopped to take a look (like I do every day
> *grin*) They have three large (like 15in in dia) coiled ammonites but they are
> unidentified. They also have a large display (one of the nicest I have seen
> btw) of Pliocene mollusca. They also have a comparison with a few of the
> recent floridian mollusks. There is a model display of what the living seas
> looked like (cenozoic I believe, I haven't payed attention to the cards). And
> there is a really kewl school of the uncoiled squid-like cephs (plastic) in
> the middle of the recreated reef.
>
>  I believe that they have some of the 8footers+ in the paleo collections but I
> have never seen them.
>
> -Sarah Watson