Tragophylloceras

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Androgynoceras lataecosta and Tragophylloceras numismale - Naturhistorisches Museum, Braunschweig, Germany - DSC05164

Tragophylloceras is a genus of extinct ammonite that lived during the Jurassic period. Ammonites are an extinct group of marine mollusc animals in the subclass Ammonoidea, and Tragophylloceras is known for its distinctive, ribbed spiral shells. These creatures were part of the marine ecosystem, playing a crucial role in the food chain both as predators and prey.

Description

Tragophylloceras had a planispiral shell, meaning the shell coiled in a single plane, creating a flat, disc-like shape. The shell's surface was adorned with fine, radiating ribs that extended from the center outwards. These ribs could be either straight or slightly curved, giving the shell a textured appearance. The genus is distinguished by its lobed line, a complex pattern of sutures on the shell, which is a characteristic feature of ammonites. This lobed line was more intricate than that of earlier ammonites, reflecting the evolutionary advancements of the group during the Jurassic.

Taxonomy

The taxonomy of Tragophylloceras is rooted in the Ammonitida order, which encompasses a wide variety of ammonite species. Within this order, Tragophylloceras belongs to the family Phylloceratidae, known for their elaborately lobed suture patterns and generally evolute shell forms.

Distribution and Habitat

Tragophylloceras fossils have been found in various locations around the world, indicating a wide distribution across ancient seas during the Jurassic period. These locations include parts of Europe, South America, and Asia, suggesting that Tragophylloceras was capable of thriving in a range of marine environments. The widespread distribution of Tragophylloceras fossils also provides valuable insights into the paleogeography and marine conditions of the Jurassic period.

Paleobiology

The life habits of Tragophylloceras, like many ammonites, are inferred from their fossilized shells. The structure of the shell suggests that Tragophylloceras was a nektonic animal, capable of active swimming. The buoyancy of the shell would have allowed it to control its depth in the water column, while the ribbed texture might have provided hydrodynamic advantages or played a role in camouflage or display.

Extinction

Tragophylloceras, along with the rest of the ammonites, went extinct at the end of the Cretaceous period, approximately 66 million years ago. This extinction event, known as the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event, led to the loss of a significant proportion of marine and terrestrial species. The reasons for the extinction of ammonites, including Tragophylloceras, are still a subject of scientific research, with hypotheses ranging from climate change to ocean acidification and the impact of extraterrestrial objects.