Acanthoscaphites is an extinct genus of cephalopod belonging to the Ammonite subclass. The average diameter of its shell was approximately 20 millimetres (3⁄4 inch), but some specimens have been found with a diameter of slightly over 50 mm (2 in).
| Acanthoscaphites Temporal range:
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|---|---|
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| A. tridens fossil | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Cephalopoda |
| Subclass: | †Ammonoidea |
| Order: | †Ammonitida |
| Suborder: | †Ancyloceratina |
| Family: | †Scaphitidae |
| Subfamily: | †Scaphitinae |
| Genus: | †Acanthoscaphites Schluter, 1872 |
| Species | |
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Classification
editAcanthoscaphites was first described by Schluter in 1872. Subsequent taxonomic revisions indicate that the relationship between Acanthoscaphites and Trachyscaphites is still unclear: Acanthoscaphites may have evolved in parallel with or as a derivative of Trachyscaphites.[1]
Species
- A. plenus
- A. tridens
- A. verneuilianus
Biogeography
editAcanthoscaphites was a widespread genus during Campanian and Maastrichtian times, approximately 80 million years ago.[1] Its remains can be found in rocks of that age from Europe and North America.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b Monks, Neale (2000-05-01). "Functional morphology, ecology, and evolution of the Scaphitaceae Gill, 1871 (cephalopoda)". Journal of Molluscan Studies. 66 (2): 205–216. doi:10.1093/mollus/66.2.205.
- ^ Dubicka, Z.; Peryt, D. (2011-01-01). "Integrated biostratigraphy of Upper Maastrichtian chalk at Chełm (SE Poland)". Annales Societatis Geologorum Poloniae. 81 (2).
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