Embryonic and early juvenile development in the Silurian basal nautilid Peismoceras Hyatt, 1894

Abstract

The family Lechritrochoceratidae Flower, 1950 includes the earliest cephalopods acquiring a lateral pair of retractor muscles—a diagnostic character of the Nautilida. The embryonic shell of Silurian lechritrochoceratids is minute, with a diameter of 2–4 mm, a length of 4.5–7.5 mm and consists of three growth stages: (1) elliptical, dorsoventrally elongated and flattened cicatrix with a central bar, (2) a short, rapidly expanding shell part and (3) a gradually expanding, very slightly curved shell. The sculpture consists of longitudinal lirae, and faintly distinct growth lines or ridges. A ventral lobe formed by ridges corresponds in its course to post-hatching ribs. This lobe indicates the early development of the hyponome in the egg capsule. The hatching is indicated by the appearance of ribs and sometimes also by a change in shell curvature. The juvenile stage is characterised by the prolongation of the body chamber, a change in the shape of the cross section, increasing expansion rate, and by a deepening of the hyponomic sinus. The juveniles were probably demersal with the aperture oriented more or less towards the sea floor. The dorsoventrally elongated cicatrix with a central bar and a depression corresponding to the caecum position and the appearance of longitudinal lirae near the cicatrix margin support systematic position of the lechritrochoceratids among the Nautilida. The hemispherical apex and the very slightly curved embryonic shell, ribbed juvenile shell and narrow annular elevation around the body chamber base, however, call for the definition of a new suborder Lechritrochoceratina.