Sphooceras

Sphooceras is a genus of primitive cephalopod from the Silurian period. Most fossils have been found in the Czech Republic, but possible fossils may also exist in other countries.[1][2] It is currently known from two species, Sphooceras disjunctum and Sphooceras truncatum.

Sphooceras
Temporal range:
Full-color live reconstruction of Sphooceras.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Cephalopoda
Subclass:
Coleoidea
Order:
†Orthocerida
Family:
†Sphooceratidae
Genus:
†Sphooceras
Type species
†Sphooceras truncatum
(Barrande, 1860)
Species
  • S. disjunctum
  • S. truncatum

Description

Multiple individuals of Sphooceras have been found, possibly even sporting various growth stages. While the larvae sported coiled shells, adult individuals were found have sported truncated, straight shells, giving them a rather sausage-like appearance.[2][3] They are among the earliest cephalopods to sport a fully-covered mantle, similar to that of a cowrie, and may have even repaired such shells similarly. Fossilized remains also show possible patterning of stripes similar to those sported on the extant nautilus, probably for camouflage.[3]

References
  1. "Fossilworks: Sphooceras".
  2. Turek, V.; Manda, Š. (2012). ""An endocochleate experiment" in the Silurian straight-shelled cephalopod Sphooceras". Bulletin of Geosciences: 767–813. doi:10.3140/bull.geosci.1335.
  3. "500 million years of cephalopod fossils".


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