New 'Chunky' Squid-Like Fossil Discovered in Wyoming

Paleontologists have identified a new species of belemnite, an ancient squid-like creature, discovered in Wyoming. The fossils, unearthed from the upper Sundance Formation, date back approximately 160 million years to the Jurassic Period. This new species, named Wyoteuthis linsterorum, is distinguished by its unusually thick, barrel-shaped internal skeletons, earning it the moniker "chunky belemnite."

The two exceptionally rare fossils found measured about 60 millimeters across, making them the stoutest belemnite skeletons ever discovered. Belemnites are extinct marine animals related to modern cephalopods like squid and octopuses. They are known for their distinctive, bullet-shaped internal skeletons, often referred to as guards, which are the most commonly preserved parts in the fossil record.

The fossilized rostrum of W. linsterorum was approximately 4 inches long and up to 2.4 inches wide, contributing to its unique, stout appearance. Researchers estimate that the animal itself may have reached nearly two feet in length, though its exact body size remains difficult to determine due to the fossil's unusual proportions.

While belemnite fossils are relatively common, W. linsterorum is notable for belonging to a rare family that scientists believed had largely died out millions of years prior to this species' existence. Its discovery suggests that this group survived in an unexpected refuge within the ancient Sundance Sea, challenging previous assumptions about their extinction timeline.

The find, detailed in the journal Papers in Paleontology, highlights that even familiar fossil sites can yield significant new scientific discoveries. The existence of W. linsterorum provides crucial evidence for the survival of a rare belemnite lineage in a period and location previously thought to be devoid of such life.