Lytoceratinae is a subfamily of ammonoid cephalopods that make up part of the family Lytoceratidae.

Lytoceratinae
Temporal range: Pliensbachian - Cenomanian
Fossil shells of Protetragonites obliquestrangulatum from Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, on display at Galerie de paléontologie et d'anatomie comparée in Paris
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Cephalopoda
Subclass: Ammonoidea
Order: Ammonitida
Family: Lytoceratidae
Subfamily: Lytoceratinae
Neumayr,1875
Genera

[1]

Description edit

They are characterized by shells in which the whorls bear growth lines or lamellar folds, or both, commonly corresponding to constrictions in the internal mold. The external suture, that not lying against the previous whorl, has two lateral lobes (per side), the first being much larger. The internal lobe, which lies against the previous whorl, has a cruciform dorsal lobe.

Fossil range edit

Lytoceratinae has a long stratigraphic and temporal range (196.5 to 89.3 Ma [1]) extending from the Early Jurassic Pliensbachian to the Late Cretaceous Cenomanian, although most included genera have much shorter ranges.

Lytoceras, the type genus, ranges from Early Jurassic to early late Cretaceous.[2]

Ptycholytoceras is confined to the Early Jurassic Toarcian, while Hemilytoceras is present in the Late Jurassic Oxfordian-Tithonian.[2]

Five genera are known from the Early Cretaceous. Pterolytoceras and Metalytoceras from the Valanginian (Petrolytoceras may extend back to the Tithonian), Eulytoceras from the Hauterivian - Barremian, Argonauticeras and Pictetia from the Aptian - Albian. Ammonoceratites ranges from the Aptian to the Cenomanian.[2]

References edit