Vampyronassa Temporal range: Middle Jurassic
| |
---|---|
Pyritized fossil of Vampyronassa rhodanica from Voulte-sur-Rhône, France. | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Cephalopoda |
Order: | Vampyromorphida |
Family: | Vampyroteuthidae |
Genus: | †Vampyronassa Fischer & Riou, 2002 |
Species: | †V. rhodanica
|
Binomial name | |
†Vampyronassa rhodanica Fischer & Riou, 2002
|
Vampyronassa rhodanica ("vampire fish trap") is an extinct vampyromorph cephalopod known from around 20 fossils from the Lower Callovian (165–164 Ma) of La Voulte-sur-Rhône, Ardèche, France.[1]
Vampyronassa reached total length about 10 cm (3.9 in).[2] This taxon differs from the modern vampire squid in having longer first dorsal arms, a larger hyponome, and a more elongated mantle. The original description noted possible luminous organs[1] which a restudy could not confirm.[2] It had eight arms with uniserial suckers flanked by cirri, same as modern vampire squid. Retractile filaments that is known from modern vampire squid is not known in Vampyronassa.[2] Like vampire squid, Vampyronassa lacked an ink sac.[2]
Vampyronassa shares some characters with modern vampire squid Vampyroteuthis, such as lack of ink sac and unique type of sucker attachment.[2] Analysis supports the sister relationship between Vampyronassa and Vampyroteuthis.[2]
Although modern vampire squid are deep-sea opportunistic detritivore and zooplanktivore, Vampyronassa is estimated to have been an active predator following a pelagic mode of life according to characteristics of its arms.[2] Considering Oligocene vampyromorph Necroteuthis probably had a deep-sea mode of life,[3] initial shift of vampiromorphs to offshore environments was possibly driven by onshore competition.[2]