Vampyronassa Temporal range:
Middle Jurassic
| |
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Pyritized fossil of Vampyronassa rhodanica from Voulte-sur-Rhône, France. | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Cephalopoda |
Order: | Vampyromorphida |
Family: | Vampyroteuthidae |
Genus: | †
Vampyronassa Fischer & Riou, 2002 |
Species: | †V. rhodanica
|
Binomial name | |
†Vampyronassa rhodanica |
Vampyronassa rhodanica ("vampire fish trap") is an extinct vampyromorph cephalopod known from around 20 fossils from the Lower Callovian (165–164 Ma) of La Voulte-sur-Rhône, Ardèche, France. [1]
Vampyronassa reached total length about 10 cm (3.9 in). [2] This taxon differs from the modern vampire squid in having longer first dorsal arms, a larger hyponome, and a more elongated mantle. The original description noted possible luminous organs [1] which a restudy could not confirm. [2] It had eight arms with uniserial suckers flanked by cirri, same as modern vampire squid. Retractile filaments that is known from modern vampire squid is not known in Vampyronassa. [2] Like vampire squid, Vampyronassa lacked an ink sac. [2]
Vampyronassa shares some characters with modern vampire squid Vampyroteuthis, such as lack of ink sac and unique type of sucker attachment. [2] Analysis supports the sister relationship between Vampyronassa and Vampyroteuthis. [2]
Although modern vampire squid are deep-sea opportunistic detritivore and zooplanktivore, Vampyronassa is estimated to have been an active predator following a pelagic mode of life according to characteristics of its arms. [2] Considering Oligocene vampyromorph Necroteuthis probably had a deep-sea mode of life, [3] initial shift of vampiromorphs to offshore environments was possibly driven by onshore competition. [2]
Vampyronassa Temporal range:
Middle Jurassic
| |
---|---|
Pyritized fossil of Vampyronassa rhodanica from Voulte-sur-Rhône, France. | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Cephalopoda |
Order: | Vampyromorphida |
Family: | Vampyroteuthidae |
Genus: | †
Vampyronassa Fischer & Riou, 2002 |
Species: | †V. rhodanica
|
Binomial name | |
†Vampyronassa rhodanica |
Vampyronassa rhodanica ("vampire fish trap") is an extinct vampyromorph cephalopod known from around 20 fossils from the Lower Callovian (165–164 Ma) of La Voulte-sur-Rhône, Ardèche, France. [1]
Vampyronassa reached total length about 10 cm (3.9 in). [2] This taxon differs from the modern vampire squid in having longer first dorsal arms, a larger hyponome, and a more elongated mantle. The original description noted possible luminous organs [1] which a restudy could not confirm. [2] It had eight arms with uniserial suckers flanked by cirri, same as modern vampire squid. Retractile filaments that is known from modern vampire squid is not known in Vampyronassa. [2] Like vampire squid, Vampyronassa lacked an ink sac. [2]
Vampyronassa shares some characters with modern vampire squid Vampyroteuthis, such as lack of ink sac and unique type of sucker attachment. [2] Analysis supports the sister relationship between Vampyronassa and Vampyroteuthis. [2]
Although modern vampire squid are deep-sea opportunistic detritivore and zooplanktivore, Vampyronassa is estimated to have been an active predator following a pelagic mode of life according to characteristics of its arms. [2] Considering Oligocene vampyromorph Necroteuthis probably had a deep-sea mode of life, [3] initial shift of vampiromorphs to offshore environments was possibly driven by onshore competition. [2]