Acanthoscaphites

{{Short description|Genus of molluscs (fossil)}}

{{Automatic taxobox

|image = Acanthoscaphites tridens 02.JPG

|image_caption = A. tridens fossil

|fossil_range = {{fossilrange|83.5|66|Late Campanian to Late Maastrichtian}}

|taxon = Acanthoscaphites

|authority = Schluter, 1872

|subdivision_ranks = Species

|subdivision =

  • see text

}}

Acanthoscaphites is an extinct genus of cephalopod belonging to the Ammonite subclass. The average diameter of its shell was approximately {{convert|3/4|in|mm|-1|order=flip|abbr=off}}, but some specimens have been found with a diameter of slightly over {{convert|2|in|mm|-1|order=flip|abbr=on}}.

Classification

Acanthoscaphites 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.{{Cite journal|last=Monks|first=Neale|date=2000-05-01|title=Functional morphology, ecology, and evolution of the Scaphitaceae Gill, 1871 (cephalopoda)|url=https://paperity.org/p/90053612/functional-morphology-ecology-and-evolution-of-the-scaphitaceae-gill-1871-cephalopoda|journal=Journal of Molluscan Studies|volume=66|issue=2|pages=205–216|doi=10.1093/mollus/66.2.205|doi-access=free}}

Species

  • A. plenus
  • A. tridens
  • A. verneuilianus

Biogeography

Acanthoscaphites was a widespread genus during Campanian and Maastrichtian times, approximately 80 million years ago. Its remains can be found in rocks of that age from Europe and North America.{{Cite journal|last1=Dubicka|first1=Z.|last2=Peryt|first2=D.|date=2011-01-01|title=Integrated biostratigraphy of Upper Maastrichtian chalk at Chełm (SE Poland)|url=https://paperity.org/p/210512929/integrated-biostratigraphy-of-upper-maastrichtian-chalk-at-chelm-se-poland|journal=Annales Societatis Geologorum Poloniae|volume=81|issue=2}}

References