• Corpus ID: 195258934

12 Speculations on Buoyancy Control and Ecology in some Heteromorph Ammonites

@inproceedings{Klinger201212SO,
  title={12 Speculations on Buoyancy Control and Ecology in some Heteromorph Ammonites},
  author={Herbert Christian Klinger},
  year={2012}
}

• H. Klinger
• Published 2012

Possible buoyancy control in some heteromorph ammonite groups is investigated in terms of the position of the siphuncle. Groups investigated include some torticones, ancylocones and orthocones. In Turrilitinae the •idapical position of the siphuncle causes rapid decoupling and may possibly permit the shell to retain significant amounts of cameral liquid, which may be lavourable to a vagile benthonic mode of life. Ancylocones have a very stable floating position in the adult stage, but lateral movement appears restricted. Some forms with very large body chambers may be adapted to a mode of life close to the substrate. In orthocones a near-vertical floating position seems most likely. Apertural hoods may represent modifications for occasional resting on the substrate. To float horizontally underwater, very delicate buoyancy control is necessary, following a pattern quite unlike that of Nautilus, but comparable with Sepia and Spirula.