Echioceratidae


Echioceratidae is an extinct family of ammonites that lived during Sinemurian stage of Early Jurassic.

Description

Ammonites belonging to this family are characterised by serpenticone shells with a keel, which can be surrounded by grooves if a species is densely ribbed and compressed. The whorl section is either circular or has flat sides. Ribs are simple and strong with the exception of Leptechioceras which instead possessed a strongly compressed, smooth outer whorl. The initial ontogenical stage of these ammonites is typically smooth but very short. Tubercules are represented in a few genera within this group.

Genera and subgenera

Following genera are members of this family:Palaeoechioceras Spath, 1929Gagaticeras Buckman, 1913Plesechioceras Trueman and Williams, 1925Orthechioceras Trueman and Williams, 1925Echioceras Bayle, 1878Paltechioceras Buckman, 1924Leptechioceras Buckman, 1923
  • *L.
  • *L. Donovan, 1966

Distribution

Fossils of species within this family have been found in the Jurassic rocks of north Africa, South and North America, Europe and Asia.