Acanthoscaphites

Acanthoscaphites is an extinct genus of cephalopod belonging to the Ammonite subclass. The average diameter of its shell was approximately 20 millimetres (3⁄4 inch), but some specimens have been found with a diameter of slightly over 50 mm (2 in).

Acanthoscaphites Temporal range: Late Campanian to Late Maastrichtian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
A. tridens fossil
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Cephalopoda
Subclass:	†Ammonoidea
Order:	†Ammonitida
Suborder:	†Ancyloceratina
Family:	†Scaphitidae
Subfamily:	†Scaphitinae
Genus:	†Acanthoscaphites Schluter, 1872
Species
see text

Classification

Acanthoscaphites was first described by Schluter in 1872. Subsequent taxonomic revisions indicate that the relationship between Acanthoscaphites and Trachyscaphites is still unclear: Acanthoscaphites may have evolved in parallel with or as a derivative of Trachyscaphites.^[1]

Species

• A. plenus
• A. tridens
• A. verneuilianus

Biogeography

Acanthoscaphites was a widespread genus during Campanian and Maastrichtian times, approximately 80 million years ago.^[1] Its remains can be found in rocks of that age from Europe and North America.^[2]