Hemicosmorthoceras is an extinct genus of actively mobile carnivorous cephalopod, essentially a Nautiloid, that lived in what would be present day Europe during the Silurian to Devonian from 422.9—412.3 mya, existing for approximately 10.6 million years.[1]
| Hemicosmorthoceras Temporal range: Ordovician-Devonian
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| Genus: | Hemicosmorthoceras Foerste (1925)
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Taxonomy
editHemicosmorthoceras was named by Foerste (1925). It was assigned to Orthocerida by Teichert et al. (1964); and to Endocerida by Sepkoski (2002).[2]
Morphology
editThe shell is usually long and may be straight ("orthoconic") or gently curved. In life, these animals may have been similar to the modern squid, except for the long shell.
Fossil distribution
editFossil distribution is exclusive to Sardinia, Austrian Alps.
References
edit- ^ PaleoBiology Database: Hemicosmorthoceras, basic info
- ^ J. J. Sepkoski. 2002. A compendium of fossil marine animal genera. Bulletins of American Paleontology 363:1-560
