Phragmoteuthida Explained

Phragmoteuthida is an order of extinct coleoid cephalopods[1] characterized by a fan-like teuthoid pro-ostracum attached to a belemnoid-like phragmocone.

Diagnosis

Jeletzky[1] characterized phragmoteuthids as having a large tripartite, fanlike pro-ostracum forming the longest portion of the shell, attached to about three-quarters of the circumference of a comparatively small breviconic phragmocone with short camerae and superficially belemnitid-like siphuncle, an absent or much reduced rostrum at the apical part of the phragmocone, belemnite-like arm hooks, an ink sack, beaks resembling those of Recent teuthids, and a muscular mantle.

Donovan (2006), gives a similar description for Phragmoteuthis: Phragmocones as having an apical angle of between 20 and 30 degrees, and relatively few chambers compared with belemnoids; a multi-layered conotheca, thick-walled siphuncle, and a long, three-lobed pro-ostracum as in the Triassic species. Arms are short and bear pairs of slightly curved hooks.[2]

Classification

Notes and References

  1. Doguzhaeva . L. . 2002 . Adolescent bactritoid, orthoceroid, ammonoid and coleoid shells from the Upper Carboniferous and Lower Permian of the South Urals . Abhandlungen der Geologischen Bundesanstalt . 57 . 9–55.
  2. D.T. . Donovan . 2006 . Phragmoteuthida (Cephalopoda: coleoidea) from the Jurassic of Dorset, England . Palaeontology . 49 . 3 . 673–684 . May 2006 . 10.1111/j.1475-4983.2006.00552.x. 128893474 . free .