Extinct genus of nautiloids
Mongoceras
Temporal range: 443.7–428.2 Ma
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Mongoceras
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Mongoceras is an extinct orthoconic nautiloid cephalopod found in the Silurian of China and Siberia.[1]
It is included in the Orthocerida.[2] The family in undetermined.
Morphology
As with the Orthocerida the shell of Mongoceras is generally long and straight, with a generally central siphuncle composed of thin connecting rings. A vertical, heads down orientation in life can be inferred, in contrast with the horizontal benthic orientation of ellesmerocerida, endocerids, and many actinocerids with their weighted ventral siphuncles.[3]
Association
Mongoceras has been found with Kionoceras, Geisonocers, and Sichuanoceras in Silurian reefoid formations in China, along with a suite of other benthic invertebrates. It has also been found in core samples from Siberia with Edenoceras hiliferum and Geisonoceras kureikense.[3]
References