Asklepioceras Explained

Asklepioceras is a genus in the Ceratitid family Arpaditidae from the Middle and Upper Triassic (Ladinian and Carnian stages) of Italy, Romania, Turkey, and British Columbia (Canada).

History

The type species, Asklepioceras segmentatum was originally named as Arpadites segmentatus by Renz, 1910. In 1951, it was assigned to Asklepioceras by L. F. Spath.^[1] Founded in British Columbia in 1947, A. mahaffii was later synonymised with A. laurenci. Two more species, A. exilis and A. altilis, both from Canada, were described in 1994 by E. T. Tozer.^[2]

Description

The genus is characterized by evolute to involute, discoidal to subglobular shells with a median (ventral) furrow not bordered by keels (in contrast to Dittmarites in which it is) and simple ceratitic sutures. (Arkell et al. 1962, L162) The genotype Asklepioceras segmentatus Renz, 1910, based on Arpadites (Dittmarites) segmentatus Mojsisovics, 1893. is found in the Carnian of the Alps.

Further reading

• Arkel et al., 1962. Mesozoic Ammonoidea, Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology Part L, Mollusca 4, R.C. Moore (ed)
• E. T. Tozer. 1981. Triassic Ammonoidea: Classification, evolution and relationship with Permian and Jurassic Forms. The Ammonoidea: The evolution classification, mode of life and geological usefulness of a major fossil group 66-100
• J. J., J.r. Sepkoski. 2002. A compendium of fossil marine animal genera. Bulletins of American Paleontology 363:1-560

Notes and References

1. L. F. Spath. 1951. Catalogue of the Fossil Cephalopoda in the British Museum (Natural History), Part V, The Ammonoidea of the Trias (II) 1-228
2. E. T. Tozer. 1994. Canadian Triassic Ammonoid Faunas. Geological Survey of Canada Bulletin 467:1-663. ISBN 0-660-15368-8