Prodactylioceras is genus of ammonite that lived during the Pliensbachian stage of early Jurassic. It has evolved from Reynesocoeloceras, but maybe not directly, but through Bettoniceras. Its fossils were found in Europe, Asia and North America.[1]

Prodactylioceras
Temporal range: Pliensbachian [1]
P. davoei - type species of genus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Cephalopoda
Subclass: Ammonoidea
Order: Ammonitida
Family: Dactylioceratidae
Subfamily: Reynesocoeloceratinae
Genus: Prodactylioceras
Spath, 1923
Type species
Ammonites davoei
Sowerby, 1822
Species
  • P. davoei Sowerby, 1822
  • P. nodosissimum Quenstedt, 1885
  • P. italicum Meneghini et Fucini, 1900
  • P. colubriforme Bettoni, 1900
  • P. rectiradiatum Wingrave, 1916
  • P. aurigeriense Dommergues et al., 1984
  • P. ausonicum Fucini, 1900
  • P. westgatenses Caruthers et al., 2018
Synonyms
  • Paralytoceras Frebold, 1922
  • not Paralytoceras Frech, 1902
  • Praedactylioceras Frentzen, 1937

While sometimes, genus Bettoniceras, which differs from Prodactylioceras only by lacking tubercules is considered valid,[1] in other cases it is considered to be a synonym of this genus.[2] Species as P. italicum, or P. colubriforme would not be in that case belonging to this genus, as they are members of genus Bettoniceras.[3]

Description edit

Ammonites of this genus had evolute shells, with circular to slightly depressed whorl section. In compressed species, ribs were fine and often prorsiradiate and they were wearing ventrolateral tubercules. In depressed species, ribs are coarser and swollen, while ventrolateral tubercules are larger.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d M. K. Howarth 2013. Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology, Part L, Revised, Volume 3B, Chapter 4: Psiloceratoidea, Eoderoceratoidea, Hildoceratoidea.
  2. ^ Meister, C., Dommergues, J. L., Dommergues, C., Lachkar, N., & El Hariri, K. (2011). Les ammonites du Pliensbachien du jebel Bou Rharraf (Haut Atlas oriental, Maroc). Geobios, 44(1), 117-e1.
  3. ^ Wiedenmayer, F. (1980). Die Ammoniten Der Mediterranen Provinz Im Pliensbachian Und Unteren Toarcian Aufgrund Neuer Untersuchungen Im Generoso-Becken: Lombardische Alpen (Vol. 93). Birkhauser.