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‘Chunkiest’ belemnite fossil ever found in Wyoming
FOX Weather • • science
Key Points:
- Scientists have identified the thickest belemnite ever discovered, a squid-like marine creature from the Jurassic Period found in Wyoming's Sundance Formation.
- The fossils led to the identification of a new species, Wyoteuthis linsterorum, notable for its unusually thick, barrel-shaped internal skeleton measuring about 60 millimeters across.
- This discovery suggests that a rare family of belemnites survived longer than previously believed, persisting in a refuge in the northeastern Pacific region.
- The belemnite's fossilized rostrum, about 4 inches long and 2.4 inches wide, indicates the animal may have reached nearly 2 feet in length, though its exact size remains uncertain.
- The find highlights that even well-studied fossil sites can yield significant new scientific insights into ancient marine life.
