Sphooceras
| Sphooceras Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Full-color live reconstruction of Sphooceras | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | †Sphooceras Flower, 1963 |
| Type species | |
| †Sphooceras truncatum (Barrande, 1860) | |
| Species | |
| |
Sphooceras is a genus of primitive cephalopod from the Silurian period. Most fossils have been found in the Czech Republic, but possible fossils may also exist in other countries.[1][2] It is currently known from two species, Sphooceras disjunctum and Sphooceras truncatum.
Description
[edit source]Multiple individuals of Sphooceras have been found, possibly even sporting various growth stages. While the larvae sported coiled shells, adult individuals were found have sported truncated, straight shells, giving them a rather sausage-like appearance.[2][3] They are among the earliest cephalopods to sport a fully-covered mantle, similar to that of a cowrie, and may have even repaired such shells similarly. Fossilized remains also show possible patterning of stripes similar to those sported on the extant nautilus, probably for camouflage.[3]
References
[edit source]- ↑ "Fossilworks: Sphooceras".
- 1 2 Turek, V.; Manda, Š. (2012). ""An endocochleate experiment" in the Silurian straight-shelled cephalopod Sphooceras". Bulletin of Geosciences: 767–813. doi:10.3140/bull.geosci.1335.
- 1 2 "500 million years of cephalopod fossils".
 | This prehistoric cephalopod-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information. |