Belemnites: The Squid Ancestors

Belemnites: The Squid Ancestors

Belemnites were ancient marine creatures that lived during the Mesozoic Era, between 200 and 65 million years ago. They were cephalopods, similar to modern squids and cuttlefish, but had a hard internal shell called a rostrum.

The rostrum of a belemnite was made of calcite and had a bullet-shaped structure. This shell served as a protection for the soft body of the animal and helped with buoyancy control. Belemnites were predatory creatures, using their tentacles to catch prey and their sharp beak to break it down.

These fascinating creatures became extinct at the end of the Cretaceous Period, along with the dinosaurs. However, their fossils are abundant and have provided valuable information about the evolution of cephalopods. Belemnites are considered to be the ancestors of modern squids and cuttlefish, showcasing the long history of these intelligent and adaptable marine animals.