Richmondoceras is an extinct genus of actively mobile carnivorous cephalopods, essentially a Nautiloid, that lived in what would be North America during the Ordovician and Silurian from 449.5—443.7 mya, existing for approximately 5.8 million years.[1]
| Richmondoceras Temporal range: Ordovician-Silurian
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| Genus: | Richmondoceras Frey (1995)
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Taxonomy edit
Richmondoceras was named by Frey (1995). Its type is Richmondoceras brevicameratum. It was assigned to Orthocerida by Frey (1995).[2]
Morphology edit
The 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 edit
Fossil distribution is exclusive to Indiana, USA.
References edit
- ^ PaleoBiology Database: Richmondoceras, basic info
- ^ R. C. Frey. 1995. Middle and Upper Ordovician nautiloid cephalopods of the Cincinnati Arch region of Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1066P:1-126
