Acanthoptychoceras

Acanthoptychoceras is a genus of ammonite, a group of extinct marine mollusk species. These creatures were part of the subclass Ammonoidea within the class Cephalopoda, which also includes modern day squid, octopus, and nautilus. Acanthoptychoceras is specifically from the Cretaceous period, which spanned approximately 145 to 66 million years ago.

Morphology

The shell of Acanthoptychoceras, like other ammonites, is typically coiled and chambered. The chambers, known as camerae, were filled with gas or fluid, allowing the creature to control its buoyancy. The outermost chamber, the body chamber, housed the ammonite's body. The shell's surface is ornamented with ribs and tubercles, which may have served a defensive purpose or played a role in mating displays.

Ecology

Ammonites, including Acanthoptychoceras, were likely swift, active predators. Their diet probably consisted of small prey such as plankton, crustaceans, and small fish. They were likely preyed upon by larger marine creatures, such as mosasaurs and plesiosaurs.

Fossil Record

Fossils of Acanthoptychoceras and other ammonites are primarily found in marine rocks, particularly those of the Cretaceous period. They are often used in biostratigraphy, a method of dating rocks based on the fossils contained within them. The widespread distribution and rapid evolution of ammonites make them particularly useful for this purpose.

See Also

• Ammonite
• Cretaceous
• Cephalopoda
• Biostratigraphy