A group of paleontologists in Germany has discovered a fossilized vampire squid that dates back to 183 million years ago. In a paper published in the Swiss Journal of Palaeontology, Robert Weis, Ben Thuy, and Dirk Fuchs detail the location of the fossil’s discovery, its state of preservation, and how it compares to modern vampire squids.
In their latest study, the team further examined the fossilized remains of a vampyromorph found at a dig site in Bascharage in 2022, dating it back to the Early Jurassic period. They have named the new species Simoniteuthis michaelyi.
The researchers were amazed to find the fossil in excellent condition, as it was a complete specimen, allowing for a thorough investigation. They also discovered that the creature had died while in the process of consuming two small fish—a rare occurrence in the fossil record. Measuring 38 centimeters long, the find is exceptional due to its remarkable preservation, enabling the study of soft tissue structures such as eyeballs and muscle tissue in great detail.
Previous research indicates that the vampyromorph inhabited the shallows off an island that once existed in what is now the heart of the European mainland. The research team attributes the squid’s remarkable preservation to unique conditions at the time of its death. The poorly oxygenated water at the bottom of the sea where it lived would have caused the creature to suffocate. This lack of oxygen would have not only killed the squid but also prevented other creatures from feeding on its remains, allowing it to become entirely intact and buried in the seafloor.
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2024-02-28 02:00:05
Link from phys.org