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 16.8 million years.[1]
Donacoceras Temporal range: Ordovician
| |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | |
Phylum: | |
Class: | |
Subclass: | |
Order: | |
Genus: | Donacoceras Foerste (1925)
|
Taxonomy
editDonacoceras was named by Foerste (1925). It was assigned to Orthocerida by Teichert et al. (1964); and to Endocerida by Sepkoski (2002).[2][3]
Morphology
editThe 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
editFossil distribution is exclusive to Gaspé Peninsula, Quebec, Canada.
References
edit- ^ PaleoBiology Database: Donacoceras, basic info
- ^ 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
- ^ J. J. Sepkoski. 2002. A compendium of fossil marine animal genera. Bulletins of American Paleontology 363:1-560