Ammonite
Ammonite
Ammonite (/ˈæmənaɪt/; from Ancient Greek: ἀμμώνιον, ammonion) is a type of extinct marine mollusc animal in the subclass Ammonoidea of the class Cephalopoda. These molluscs, also referred to as ammonoids, are more closely related to living coleoids (i.e., octopuses, squids, and cuttlefishes) than they are to shelled nautiloids such as the living Nautilus species.
Etymology
The name "Ammonite", from which the scientific term is derived, was inspired by the spiral shape of their fossilized shells, which somewhat resemble tightly coiled rams' horns. Pliny the Elder (d. 79 AD near Pompeii) called fossils of these animals ammonis cornua ("horns of Ammon") because the Egyptian god Ammon (Amun) was typically depicted wearing ram's horns.
Related Terms
- Ammonoidea: The subclass to which Ammonites belong.
- Cephalopoda: The class of marine molluscs that includes Ammonites.
- Octopus: A living relative of the Ammonites.
- Squid: Another living relative of the Ammonites.
- Cuttlefish: Yet another living relative of the Ammonites.
- Nautilus: A shelled nautiloid, which is less closely related to Ammonites.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Ammonite
- Wikipedia's article - Ammonite
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