Biology:Lytoceras

Short description: Genus of molluscs (fossil)

Lytoceras Temporal range: Sinemurian–Cenomanian PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
Lytoceras fimbriatum
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Cephalopoda
Subclass:	†Ammonoidea
Order:	†Ammonitida
Family:	†Lytoceratidae
Subfamily:	†Lytoceratinae
Genus:	†Lytoceras Suess, 1865
Species
Lytoceras aulaeum Anderson, 1938 Lytoceras baconicum Vadasz, 1910 Lytoceras batesi Whiteaves, 1884 Lytoceras belliseptatiforme Collignon, 1962 Lytoceras cornucopia Young and Bird, 1822 Lytoceras crenatum Buckman, 1926 Lytoceras eudesianum (Orbigny, 1845) Lytoceras fimbriatoides Gemmellaro, 1884 Lytoceras fimbriatum Sowerby, 1817 Lytoceras fraasi Dacqué, 1910 Lytoceras francisci Oppel, 1865 Lytoceras fuggeri Geyer, 1893 Lytoceras furcicrenatum Buckman, 1928 Lytoceras juillieti (Orbigny, 1841) Lytoceras ovimontanum Geyer, 1893 Lytoceras polycyclum Neumayr, 1873 Lytoceras polyanchomenum (Gemellaro, 1872) Lytoceras praesublineatum Fucini, 1899 Lytoceras richei Sayn, 1901 Lytoceras saturnale Anderson, 1938 Lytoceras sepositum Meneghini, 1875 Lytoceras subfimbriatoides Hoedemaeker in Hoedemaeker et al., 2016 Lytoceras subfimbriatum (Orbigny, 1841) Lytoceras sutile Oppel, 1868 Lytoceras trompianum Hauer, 1861 Lytoceras villae Meneghini, 1874

Lytoceras is an ammonite genus that was extant during most of the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, and is the type genus for the family Lytoceratidae. These cephalopods were fast-moving nektonic carnivores.

Description

The giant L. taharoaense, Auckland War Memorial Museum

Shells of Lytoceras are evolute, round or quadrate in section, covered with crinkled growth lines or riblets, and may have slight constrictions on internal molds. Some have fine striations, (parallel grooves running longitudinally along the flanks).

Distribution

Fossils of species within this genus have been found in the Jurassic and Cretaceous rocks all over the world, particularly in Western Europe, Morocco, Madagascar, South Africa and United States.

References

• Systematic descriptions, Mesozoic Ammonoidea, by W.J Arkell, Bernhard Kummel, and C.W. Wright. 1957. Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology, Part L. Geological Society of America and University of Kansas press.

Wikidata ☰ Q3841044 entry