Rachiteuthis donovani
Phylum Mollusca, Class Cephalopoda, Subclass Coeloidea, Superorder Vampyropoda, Family Paleoliginidae
Geological Time: Middle Cretaceous, Cenomanian Stage (~95 million years ago)
Size (25.4 mm = 1 inch): Overall 50 mm with 13 mm tentacles on a 117 mm by 75 mm matrix.
Fossil Site: Lebanese Lagerstatte, Hajula, Lebanon
Code: RS151
Price: Sold
 Description:
Here is a most unusual fossil from the Cretaceous of Lebanon; a
very detailed vampyromorgh cephalopod known as Rhaciteuthis donovani
with preserved interior structure.. The most readily seen is the
pointed gladius, along with the dark ink sac. The  beaks are also
evident, and the tentacles can be seen as well. The gladius is
also known as the pen, and is a hard structure found within the
squids and the vampyromrphs. It has a parallel in the cuttlebone
of cuttlefish which the family Budgie uses to hone its beak. The
shape of the one seen here firmly places it within the family Paleoliginidae.
The species was recently described in the reference below.
Reference: Fuchs, Memorie della Societa Italiana, Vol XXXIV Fasciolo II, 2006. |
