Ammonites....

I studied Geology as part of my degree. I really am fascinated by fossils. Ammonites appeared in the Devonian Period (400,000,000 years ago) and disappeared in the Cretaceous Period (100,000,000 years ago). They were a very successful creature that floated about in the ancients oceans. They look like huge snails. I was in the Geological Gallery of Manchester Museum looking at their fossils. Above them the museum had hung these lifelike facsimiles. I understand how they got the shape and size right, but were they really those colours?