Neosichuanoceras

Neosichuanoceras Temporal range: Silurian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Cephalopoda
Subclass:	Orthoceratoidea
Order:	Orthocerida
Genus:	Neosichuanoceras

Neosichuanoceras is an extinct genus of actively mobile carnivorous cephalopod, essentially a Nautiloid, that lived in what would be Asia during the Silurian from 436.0 to 428.2 mya, existing for approximately 7.8 million years.[1]

Taxonomy

Neosichuanoceras was named by Flower (1958). It was assigned to Endocerida by Teichert et al. (1964); and to Orthocerida by Frey (1981).[2]

Morphology

The shell is usually long, and may be straight ("orthoconic") or gently curved. In life, these animals may have been similar to the modern squid, except for the long shell.

Fossil distribution

Fossil distribution is exclusive to Central China.

References

1. PaleoBiology Database: Neosichuanoceras, basic info
2. J. J. Sepkoski. 2002. A compendium of fossil marine animal genera. Bulletins of American Paleontology 363:1-560