Paleontologists have identified an extraordinary Jurassic-era squid relative with an unusually thick internal skeleton, challenging assumptions about ancient marine life and the survival of extinct belemnite families.
- Wyoteuthis linsterorum has the widest known belemnite skeleton.
- Discovered fossils came from an ancient inland sea in Wyoming.
- Surprising link to a previously thought extinct belemnite family.
What happened
Two rare fossils found in Wyoming have revealed a new Jurassic species of belemnite, a group of marine animals related to modern squids and octopuses. These fossils display an unusually thick, barrel-shaped internal skeleton, earning this species, named Wyoteuthis linsterorum, the title of the fattest belemnite ever identified.
This discovery involved an international team of scientists who used advanced CT scanning technology to analyze the fossils without damaging them. They found that this specimen was strikingly different from ordinary belemnites, with a rostrum twice as wide as any previously known from the region, highlighting a unique adaptation unknown to scientists until now.
Why it feels good
The identification of Wyoteuthis linsterorum is exciting because it reveals a surprising survival of a belemnite lineage that scientists thought had vanished millions of years before. This breaks previous assumptions about belemnite extinction timelines and expands our understanding of marine life diversity during the Jurassic Period.
Moreover, the creature’s chunky shape may have helped it dominate its environment, possibly by preying on smaller belemnites. This adds a captivating layer to the story of ancient marine ecosystems and demonstrates how much there is still to discover about Earth's prehistoric past.
What to enjoy or watch next
Fossils from Wyoming’s Sundance Formation continue to provide a rich source of ancient marine discoveries. Future expeditions and research could uncover more about how these bizarre creatures lived, their ecology, and evolutionary history.
For anyone fascinated by paleontology or prehistoric ocean life, following the work of international teams using modern imaging technologies like CT scans promises more revelations about extinct species that once inhabited Earth’s seas.