Acanthoscaphites Temporal range:
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A. tridens fossil | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Cephalopoda |
Subclass: | †Ammonoidea |
Order: | †Ammonitida |
Suborder: | †Ancyloceratina |
Family: | †Scaphitidae |
Subfamily: | †Scaphitinae |
Genus: | †Acanthoscaphites Schluter, 1872 |
Species | |
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Acanthoscaphites is an extinct genus of cephalopod belonging to the Ammonite subclass. The average diameter of its shell was approximately 20 millimetres (3⁄4 inch), but some specimens have been found with a diameter of slightly over 50 mm (2 in).
Acanthoscaphites was first described by Schluter in 1872. Subsequent taxonomic revisions indicate that the relationship between Acanthoscaphites and Trachyscaphites is still unclear: Acanthoscaphites may have evolved in parallel with or as a derivative of Trachyscaphites.[1]
Species
Acanthoscaphites was a widespread genus during Campanian and Maastrichtian times, approximately 80 million years ago.[1] Its remains can be found in rocks of that age from Europe and North America.[2]