PSILOCERAS Meaning and
Definition
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Psiloceras is a term used in the field of paleontology to refer to a genus of extinct ammonoid cephalopods. Ammonoids were marine creatures that belonged to the subclass Ammonoidea, which existed from the Devonian period to the end of the Cretaceous period. They were numerous and diverse organisms that possessed coiled shells resembling those of modern-day nautilus.
Psiloceras specifically refers to a genus of ammonoids that lived during the Jurassic period, around 200 to 146 million years ago. The name "Psiloceras" is derived from the Greek words "psilo" meaning smooth, and "ceras" meaning horn. This name alludes to the smooth and horn-like appearance of the shells of these ammonoids.
The shells of Psiloceras ammonoids were typically coiled in a disc-like shape, characterized by a series of chambers that the animal inhabited throughout its life. These chambers were connected by a tiny tube-like structure called a siphuncle, which allowed the animal to control the buoyancy of its shell. The outer surface of the shell was often ornamented with diverse patterns, ribs, and spines, which varied between different species. The fossils of Psiloceras ammonoids are commonly found in marine sediments, providing valuable information about ancient oceanic conditions and the evolution of ammonoids during the Jurassic period.
In summary, Psiloceras is a genus of extinct ammonoid cephalopods that lived during the Jurassic period. They were characterized by their smooth coiled shells and are an important component of the fossil record, enhancing our understanding of ancient marine ecosystems.
Common Misspellings for PSILOCERAS
- osiloceras
- lsiloceras
- 0siloceras
- pailoceras
- pziloceras
- pxiloceras
- pdiloceras
- peiloceras
- pwiloceras
- psuloceras
- psjloceras
- pskloceras
- psoloceras
- ps9loceras
- ps8loceras
- psikoceras
- psipoceras
- psiooceras
- psiliceras
- psilkceras
Etymology of PSILOCERAS
The word "psiloceras" is derived from Greek. It combines two separate Greek words: "psilos" (ψιλός), meaning "bare" or "naked", and "keras" (κέρας), meaning "horn" or "antler". The combination refers to the characteristic feature of the genus Psiloceras, an extinct group of ammonite cephalopods, known for having smooth or nearly smooth shells without prominent ridges or spines.
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