Ataxioceras

Ataxioceras is an extinct Ammonite cephalopod genus confined to the Upper Jurassic of Europe, included in the superfamily Perisphinctoidea.

Ataxioceras Temporal range: Kimmeridgian[1] PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Ataxioceras conditum fossil, Germany
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Cephalopoda
Subclass:	Ammonoidea
Order:	Ammonitida
Superfamily:	Perisphinctoidea
Family:	Ataxioceratidae
Genus:	Ataxioceras
Species
See text

Previously Ataxioceras was assigned to the Perisphinctidae but has now been placed in the Ataxioceratidae for which it is the type genus.

These fast-moving nektonic carnivores lived during the Jurassic period, from 155.7 to 150.8 Ma.^[2]

Description

The shell is evolute, strongly ribbed and moderately umbilicate. Primary ribs, on the order of 32 -36 per whorl, are sharp and widely spaced, originate at the umbilical shoulder. Secondary ribs form about mid flank, generally by trifurcation, but sometimes quadrifurcation (splitting into threes or sometimes fours) of the primaries. The umbilicus is about 0.4 the shell diameter.

Distribution

Fossils of species within this genus have been found in the Jurassic sediments in Germany, France, India and Romania.^[2]