The Discovery
A study published in Papers in Paleontology introduced a new prehistoric marine creature discovered in Wyoming. Named Wyoteuthis linsterorum, the animal is a species of belemnite—an extinct group of cephalopods related to modern squids and octopuses. Only two specimens of this unique creature have been found in the Bighorn Basin, near Ten Sleep and Thermopolis. The type specimen was uncovered by fossil collector Cliff Linster, leading scientists to name the new species in honor of the Linster family for their long history of paleontological work.
What Scientists Found
While fossilized belemnite internal shells, commonly called rostrums, are abundant in Wyoming's Sundance Formation, Wyoteuthis is unlike any previously recorded species:
- It lived roughly 160 million years ago during the Middle Jurassic, when a shallow, warm sea submerged the region.
- The rostrum of Wyoteuthis measures almost 6 inches in length and around 2 inches in thickness, giving it the thickest known belemnite shell ever discovered.
- Unlike the common Pachyteuthis belemnite, which features a bullet-shaped shell with a pointed tip up to 4 inches long, Wyoteuthis possesses a rounder, thicker shell ending in a rounded tip.
- Including its soft body, head, and tentacles, the complete animal would have been nearly two feet long, making it the largest recognized belemnite species from the Jurassic Period.
Why It Matters
During the Mesozoic Era, belemnites were a vital food source for large ocean predators, including ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs, which swallowed them whole. Even with its substantial size, Wyoteuthis likely remained prey for these massive marine reptiles. However, scientists note that its impressive dimensions may have given Wyoteuthis a distinct advantage, allowing it to hunt smaller species of belemnites in the ancient sea. The discovery sheds new light on the diversity and food webs of Jurassic ocean life.
Source: dinosaur fossil discovery - BingNews · Published September 26, 2026