Belemnites

Information

Belemnites are bullet-shaped fossils of extinct cephalopods, related to modern-day squid. Belemnites lived as nektonic, predatory animals in marine environments. Exceptional preservation of belemnites showing soft-part preservation has shown them to be similar to squid in shape... Read more

Taxonomy

• Phylum: Mollusca
• Class: Cephalopoda
• Subclass: Coleoidea
• Cohort: Belemnoidea

Diagnostic features

These are the features that will help you to identify fossils as belemnites, and that you should be attempting to label on a sketch.

• 'Bullet' shape
• Phragmocone
• Guard

Stratigraphic range

Carboniferous to Cretaceous