A new record of coleoid arm hooks from the lowermost Jurassic of Lilstock, Somerset

ORCID

Abstract

We report on a new assemblage of coleoid arm hooks found in the Blue Lias (Lower Jurassic) succession near Lilstock (Somerset, UK). As there are no soft tissues or other materials (ink sac, phragmocone, etc.) preserved in the vicinity of the hooks, the genus and species cannot be accurately identified. Unlike the hooks of Clarkeiteuthis, which have distinctive inflated, bilobate bases, the hooks discussed herein are delicate, with a gently curved apex, which makes them quite similar to the arm hooks of Belemnotheutis or Acanthoteuthis. The assemblage of hooks shows a distinct organisation and, in some places, the hooks are clearly aligned as they would have been in life position. Comparable material of late Jurassic age from the Etches Collection (Kimmeridge, Dorset) is compared to the new arm hook assemblage.

DOI

10.1016/j.pgeola.2024.05.006

Publication Date

2024-08-12

Publication Title

Proceedings of the Geologists' Association

Volume

135

Issue

4

ISSN

0016-7878

Acceptance Date

2024-05-28

Deposit Date

2024-12-05

Embargo Period

2025-08-12

Funding

Removal of the specimen has been reported to Natural England (Dr Colin Prosser and Dr Joshua Smith, Senior Specialist Palaeontologist) and its donation to the City of Bristol Museum & Art Gallery confirmed. Ms Debbie Hutchinson (Palaeontology Curator) is thanked for dealing with this acquisition for the museum. Mr James Quinn (Cartographer, University of Plymouth) is thanked for his assistance in producing the final versions of the figures. Thanks to Steve Etches MBE for access to the Museum of Jurassic Marine Life (Etches Collection) in Kimmeridge and Terry Keenan who provided some of the images from the collection. Toni Hedley assisted in the original fieldwork.

Keywords

Acanthoteuthis sp., Coleoidea, Lilstock, Lower Jurassic, Somerset

First Page

486

Last Page

491

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This item is under embargo until 12 August 2025

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