Mercaticeras

†Mercaticeras is a genus of ammonites belonging to the family Hildoceratidae.

Mercaticeras
Temporal range: Jurassic
Fossil of Mercaticeras species, from Luserna, Trento
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Cephalopoda
Subclass:
† Ammonoidea
Order:
† Ammonitida
Family:
[† Hildoceratidae
Subfamily:
† Hildoceratinae
Genus:
Mercaticeras

Etimology

The genus name Mercaticeras derives from Michele Mercati (a Tuscan physician who lived in the 16th century, superintendent of the Vatican Botanical Gardens) and ceras = horn, therefore the genus name means horn of Mercati.[1]

Description

Mercaticeras shows a subquadratic section, sometimes wider than high. The shell is averagely evolute, with a spiral that grows more rapidly in the internal whirls. It is adorned by sturdy, clavate, simple ribs. The suture is simple.[1]

Fossil record

These ammonites lived in the Jurassic, lower Toarcian age (age range: 182.0 to 175.6 million years ago).[2] Fossils of this genus can be found in Canada, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Morocco, Spain and Tunisia.[3]

Species

Species within this genus include:[3]

  • † Mercaticeras dilatatum Meneghini 1883
  • † Mercaticeras dilatum Meneghini 1883
  • † Mercaticeras hellenicum Renz 1906
  • † Mercaticeras humeralis Merla 1933
  • † Mercaticeras mercati Hauer 1856
  • † Mercaticeras rursicostatum Merla 1932
  • † Mercaticeras thyrrenicum Fucini 1905
  • † Mercaticeras umbilicatum Buckman 1913

See also

List of ammonite genera

References
  1. Ambiente e Biodiversità (in Italian)
  2. Sepkoski, Jack Sepkoski's Online Genus Database
  3. Paleobiology Database


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