SUPERBLY DETAILED Cretaceous Octopus Museum Fossil

Styletoctopus annae

Phylum Mollusca, Class Cephalopoda, Order Octopoda, Octopodidae

Geological Time: Middle Cretaceous, Cenomanian Stage (~95 million years ago)

Size (25.4 mm = 1 inch): Fossil is 68 mm with tentacles Body: 25 mm by 7 mm on an 84 mm by 48 mm matrix.

Fossil Site: Lebanese Lagerstatte, Hajula, Lebanon

Code: RS149

Price: Sold


Styletoctopus annae Octopus FossilDescription: Here is a most unusual fossil from the Cretaceous of Lebanon; a very detailed octopus called Styletoctopus annae. The genus derives its name from the stylets, highly reduced internal shells that are analogous to the gladius, or pen of squids. Given the fact that there are no hard parts to preserve to speak of, the detail here is amazing. There are many details present in this fine example with the arms mantle and head preserved in fluorapatite, the orange stain showing some of the internal organs, and the ink sac preserved in 3-D. I have include an enhanced contrast photo to show the details and an interpretive sketch. This is the earliest of the true octopi, and sure to hold pride of place in any collection of cephalopods.

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Cretaceous Octopus Museum Fossil

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