Parapuzosia

Parapuzosia
Temporal range: Cenomanian–Campanian[1]
Parapuzosia seppenradensis with a diameter of 1.8 m (5.9 ft)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Cephalopoda
Subclass: †Ammonoidea
Order: †Ammonitida
Family: †Desmoceratidae
Genus: †Parapuzosia
Nowak, 1913
Type species
Sonneratia daubreei
Grossouvre, 1894
Species [2]

Parapuzosia seppenradensis is the largest known species of ammonite.[3] It lived during the Lower Cretaceous, in marine environments in what is now Germany.

A specimen found in Germany in 1895 measures 1.8 m (5.9 ft) in diameter. The front chamber where the animal lived is damaged. Presumably, a large predator bit the end off and the living ammonite taken with it. Almost all ammonite fossils have this damage to the 'living chamber'.

If complete, this specimen would have had a diameter of about 2.55 m (8.4 ft) or even 3.5 m (11 ft).[4] The total live mass has been estimated at 1,455 kg (3,208 lb), of which the shell would be about 705 kg (1,554 lb).[4]

References

[change | change source]
  1. ↑ Sepkoski, Jack (2002). "Sepkoski's Online Genus Database". Archived from the original on 2016-02-25. Retrieved 2014-05-28.
  2. ↑ "Paleobiology Database - Parapuzosia". Archived from the original on 21 April 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  3. ↑ Payne, J.L. et al 2009. Two-phase increase in the maximum size of life over 3.5 billion years reflects biological innovation and environmental opportunity. PNAS 106(1): 24–27. doi:10.1073/pnas.0806314106
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Teichert C. & B. Kummel 1960. Size of endoceroid cephalopods. Breviora Museum of Comparative Zoology 128: 1–7.