Styletoctopus is an extinct genus of octopus. The genus consists of the single species Styletoctopus annae, which lived approximately 95 million years ago[1] during the late Cenomanian, (early late Cretaceous). It was first discovered in 2009 by a team led by Dirk Fuchs of Freie University[2] in the Hâqel and Hjoula localities in Lebanon.[1] Very few octopus species appear in the fossil record, as octopuses consist of soft tissue that usually decomposes before it has time to fossilize.[2]

Styletoctopus
Temporal range: 95 Ma
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Cephalopoda
Order: Octopoda
Family: Octopodidae
Genus: Styletoctopus
Species:
S. annae
Binomial name
Styletoctopus annae
Fuchs, Bracchi & Weis, 2009

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Fuchs, D.; Bracchi, G.; Weis, R. (2009). "New octopods (Cephalopoda: Coleoidea) from the Late Cretaceous (Upper Cenomanian) of Hâkel and Hâdjoula, Lebanon". Palaeontology. 52 (1): 65–81. Bibcode:2009Palgy..52...65F. doi:10.1111/j.1475-4983.2008.00828.x.
  2. ^ a b Rare fossil octopuses found, NBC News, March 18, 2009