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Orthoceratoidea Temporal range: Coleoidea survives to the present
Descendant taxon | |
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Orthoconic nautiloid fossil from Morocco | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Cephalopoda |
Subclass: | †Orthoceratoidea M'Coy 1844 |
Orders | |
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Orthoceratoidea is a major subclass of nautiloid cephalopods. Members of this subclass usually have orthoconic (straight) to slightly cyrtoconic (curved) shells, and central to subcentral siphuncles which may bear internal deposits.[1] Orthoceratoids are also characterized by dorsomyarian muscle scars (a small number of large scars concentrated at the top of the body chamber), extensive cameral deposits, and calciosiphonate connecting rings with a porous and calcitic inner layer.[2]
Currently, Orthoceratoidea comprises the orders Riocerida, Dissidocerida, Actinocerida, Pseudorthocerida, Lituitida and Orthocerida.[3] Orthocerida is a noteworthy paraphyletic order which is ancestral to the major cephalopod groups such as the extinct ammonoids and living coleoids (cephalopods without external shells, including squids, octopus, cuttlefish, etc.).[2][3]