Arcestes

Arcestes Temporal range:
A. intuslabiatus and A. binacostomus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Cephalopoda
Subclass:	Ammonoidea
Order:	Ceratitida
Superfamily:	Arcestaceae
Family:	Arcestidae
Genus:	Arcestes Suess, 1865
Species
A. (Pararcestes) A. andersoni † Hyatt and Smith 1905 A. intuslabiatus † Mojsisovics 1873 A. megaphyllus † Beyrich 1864 A. priscus † Waagen 1879 A. syngonus † Mojsisovics 1873

Arcestes is a genus of extinct ceratitid ammonites found in Triassic-aged marine strata.

Description

Their shells were broad and rounded, giving them an almost spherical appearance. Unlike many other ammonites, the shells of Arcestes lack keels that would otherwise stabilize them while swimming. Because of this, some paleontologists have suggested that they were bottom-dwelling crawlers.

The shell of Arcestes is globular or subglobular with periodic narrow transverse constrictions in internal molds due to periodic internal transverse ridges (varices) in the shell. The suture is ammonitic with complexly subdivided elements. The ventral lobe is subdivided by a low median saddle. Lateral lobes and saddles have generally triangular outlines but are deeply embayed by strong projections forming tree-like patterns. They form a series diminishing in size and complexity in a rather straight line going from the venter to the umbilicus in the middle of the shell.

Distribution

Fossils of Arcestes are found in Mid to Upper Triassic marine strata throughout the world, including California (A. pacificus), Nevada (A (Anisarcestes) mrazici) and Austria (A. intuslabiatus and A. binacostomus).

Gallery

• 
  Museum specimen of Arcestes species
• 
  Museum specimen of Arcestes species

References

• Arkell et al. Mesozoic Ammonoidea. Treaatise on Invertebrate Paleontology, Part L, 1957 Geological Society of America and University of Kansas press, R.C.Moore ed.
• Johnston, F.N. Trias of New Pass Nevada (New lower Karnic ammonoids); Journal of Paleontology V.15 No 5 p 447-491, Sept 1941