Modeling of ontogenetic changes in the shell cross section of the most ancient (Late Permian) representatives of <i>Otoceras</i> (Ammonoidea)

Abstract

For the first time, shell cross-sections were made for the most ancient (Late Permian) representatives of the genus Otoceras. From these cross-sections, ontogenetic changes in the shell shape of O. concavum Tozer were reconstructed at size stages ranging from tiny to very large. A moderately wide shell with a moderately narrow umbilicus narrows intensely to its tiny size, becoming a narrow shell. At the stage of very small size, the shell expands, again becoming moderately wide, and the umbilicus narrows slightly, remaining moderately narrow. However, at small sizes, the change in these characteristics occurs in the same direction, but with increased intensity. Moreover, important changes are observed at the medium-sized stage, when the expansion of the shell stops and the umbilicus becomes narrow. At the end of the studied ontogenesis, the morphological development of the mollusk was aimed at the formation of a moderately narrow shape with a very narrow umbilicus. Of the variety of shell shapes previously established among ammonoids, numbering 35 types, representatives of the species O. concavum throughout the studied ontogenesis had only three: subdiscocone, tumaricone, and pachycone. Finally, the constructed ontogenetic model clearly demonstrated the features of the development of the cross-sectional shape of O. concavum shells during their growth, emphasizing ontogenetic trends in changes in the most important parameters of the shell. We conclude that the identified transformations of the shell shape contribute to the diagnosis of small-sized Otoceras, and can serve as the basis for the subsequent reconstruction of the morphogenetic development of the family Otoceratidae.