Diceras is a genus of extinct cephalopods that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, around 70 million years ago. The word "Diceras" is spelled phonetically as /daɪ’sɛrəs/, with the stress on the second syllable. The /d/ sound at the beginning of the word is followed by the long "i" sound as in "eye" /aɪ/ then by the /s/ consonant sound. The second syllable is pronounced with the short "e" sound /ɛ/ and the third syllable has the schwa vowel sound /ə/. So, the pronunciation of "Diceras" sounds like "die-SEH-russ."
Diceras is a genus of extinct cephalopods, belonging to the Ammonoidea subclass. These prehistoric creatures lived during the Cretaceous period, approximately 100 to 65 million years ago.
Members of the Diceras genus were characterized by their distinctive coiled shells, which were typically small to medium in size. These shells had a smooth outer surface and often displayed intricate patterns of ribs and nodes, which aided in their identification and classification. The shell of Diceras was typically planispiral, meaning it formed a flat coil, although some species displayed a slightly coiled or helical shape.
Diceras possessed a siphuncle, a tubular structure that extended through the chambers of the shell, allowing for controlled buoyancy and gas exchange. This feature was common among ammonoids and enabled them to regulate their vertical position in the water column.
Like other ammonoids, Diceras was likely a marine organism and inhabited oceanic environments around the world. These creatures were thought to be carnivorous, feeding on small marine organisms such as plankton. They were likely part of the marine food chain, serving as a food source for larger predators.
Fossils belonging to the Diceras genus have been found in various locations, including Europe, North America, and Africa. These fossils provide valuable insights into the ancient marine ecosystems of the Cretaceous period and contribute to our understanding of the evolution and diversity of ammonoids.
In geol., a bivalve belonging to the family Chamidoe or Clam-shells, so called from its prominent beaks.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word Diceras has a Greek etymology. It is derived from the combination of two Greek words: di meaning two and keras meaning horn. Thus, Diceras roughly translates to two horns.