Glyptodendron is a Lower Silurian westonocerid characterized by compressed cyrtocones with a narrowly rounded dorsum and greatest width in the ventrolateral region. Sutures slope forward from the dorsum which is on the longitudinally concave side. The siphuncle is slightly ventral from the center. Segments are subspherical in the young; equally broad but shorter in the adult. No endosiphuncular deposits are known. The surface of the shell is covered by obliquely intersecting rows of scale-like pits.
| Glyptodendron Temporal range: L Silurian
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Cephalopoda |
| Subclass: | Nautiloidea |
| Order: | †Discosorida |
| Family: | †Westonoceratidae |
| Genus: | †Glyptodendron Claypole, 1878 |
| Species: | †G. eatonense
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| Binomial name | |
| †Glyptodendron eatonense Claypole, 1878
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It was first described by E. W. Claypole as part of a "tree-like fossil plant" thought to be similar to Lepidodendron.[1] The type material is from Eaton in Preble County, Ohio.
Its generic etymology is modified from the Greek glypto (γλύφω) for "I engrave" and it "alludes to the depressed areoles" which Claypole erroneously interpreted from the superficial pits across the shell as being similar to those seen in lycopsid plants.[1] Its specific epithet refers to it the locality from which the fossils were recovered by Leven Siler, a student of Professor E. W. Claypole (Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio). The same locality produced typical Silurian-aged fossils of the Niagara Group.
Though originally described as a plant fossil, fifteen years after its description, the type material of Glyptodendron was re-examined by noted paleontologist, August F. Foerste who recognized its true identity as a nautiloid.[2] Foerste thought it might prove to be referable to the better known Cyrtoceras, a previously described nautiloid taxon.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Claypole, E. W. (April 1878). "On the occurrence of a tree-like fossil plant, Glyptodendron, in the Upper Silurian (Clinton) rocks of Ohio". American Journal of Science. s3-15 (88): 302–304. Bibcode:1878AmJS...15..302C. doi:10.2475/ajs.s3-15.88.302. S2CID 130969331. ProQuest 89594932.
- ^ Foerste, A. F. (1893). "An examination of Glyptodendron, Claypole, and other so-called Silurian land plants from Ohio". American Geologist. 12 (3): 133–141.
Further reading
editThis article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (September 2022) |
- Flower, Rousseau H.; Teichert, Curt (1 July 1957). The cephalopod order Discosorida. The University of Kansas Paleontological Contributions: Article 21 Mollusca 6. hdl:1808/3795. OCLC 692073397.
- Teichert, C (1964). "Nautiloidea–Discosorida". In Moore, R.C. (ed.). Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology.
- "Glyptodendron Claypole 1878 (mollusk)". Paleobiology Database. Archived from the original on 17 October 2012.
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