Sphooceras
| Sphooceras Temporal range:
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| Full-color live reconstruction of Sphooceras. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia
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| Phylum: | |
| Class: | Cephalopoda
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| Subclass: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | †
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| Genus: | †Sphooceras
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| Type species | |
| †Sphooceras truncatum (Barrande, 1860)
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| Species | |
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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[]
Multiple individuals of Sphooceras have been found, possibly even sporting various growth stages. While the larvae sported coiled shells, adult individuals 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[]
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- Prehistoric cephalopod genera
- Fossil taxa described in 1860
- Orthocerida
- Prehistoric cephalopod stubs