Donacoceras Explained

Donacoceras is an extinct genus of actively mobile carnivorous cephalopod, essentially a Nautiloid that lived in what would be North America during the Ordovician from 460.5—443.7 mya, existing for approximately .^[1]

Taxonomy

Donacoceras was named by Foerste (1925). It was assigned to Orthocerida by Teichert et al. (1964); and to Endocerida by Sepkoski (2002).^{[2] [3]}

Morphology

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

Fossil distribution is exclusive to Gaspé Peninsula, Quebec, Canada.

Notes and References

1. https://paleobiodb.org/classic/checkTaxonInfo?taxon_no=12732 PaleoBiology Database: Donacoceras, basic info
2. C. Teichert, B. Kummel, W.C. Sweet, H.B. Stenzel, W.M. Furnish, B.F. Glenister, H.K. Erben, R.C. Moore, and D.E. Nodine Zeller. 1964. Cephalopoda - general features - Endoceratoidea - Actinoceratoidea - Nautiloidea - Bactritoidea. Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology K(3):1-519
3. J. J. Sepkoski. 2002. A compendium of fossil marine animal genera. Bulletins of American Paleontology 363:1-560