Ammonites are fractals

[v_orloff]

Reviewed recently an ammonite fossil bought as a souvenir and noted some strange patterns on it.
(unfortunately, image seems not to display for unknown reason, so give an url too)



https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7eE58QMttWhbE1WZDVNUHRMU0k

I explored them better and understood that’s fractal patterns and all the fossil is a fractal crystal (here is already one a topic at least dedicated to fossil’s fractals).
 And it is probably widely known fact.
But I met a big question. As it is supposed to consider ammonites are fossilized ancient shells,
but how does it match with such a fractal structure?
To my mind fractal grows on its own way. For what fractal needs to replicate any other shape?
Why couldn’t it grow by itself?
As I know, the single fractal has the one only center of growth, and at fossilization there are a lot of ones.
So I drew a conclusion that ammonites never were any live beings, they were always just stones.
Can anybody say something about to confirm or disprove my thoughts?

[Sabine]

Maybe this will help you further (especially the bit about suture marks)
http://www.discoveringfossils.co.uk/ammonites.htm

[v_orloff]

Thanks, there are very similar images:




 It's more interesting how do ammonites concern shells
As I see no way