Baculites

Baculites is an extinct genus of heteromorph ammonites that thrived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 100 to 66 million years ago. Unlike the typical coiled shells of most ammonites, Baculites is characterized by its elongated, straight, or slightly curved shell, making it a distinctive example of a heteromorph ammonite.

The name Baculites, meaning “walking stick stone,” reflects its unique shape. The shell structure of Baculites is often ribbed and features complex suture patterns, which are the intricate, wavy junctions where the internal shell walls (septa) meet the outer shell. These suture lines provide valuable information for identifying different species within the genus.

Fossils of Baculites have been discovered worldwide, with particularly well-preserved specimens found in North America, Europe, and parts of Asia. They are commonly found in marine sedimentary rocks, indicating that these ammonites inhabited open-sea environments, likely floating or swimming in the water column rather than crawling along the seafloor.

Paleontologists believe that Baculites were predators, feeding on small marine organisms such as crustaceans and other invertebrates. Their mode of locomotion was similar to modern cephalopods, using jet propulsion by expelling water through a siphon.

One of the fascinating aspects of Baculites fossils is their preservation with original shell material, sometimes exhibiting mother-of-pearl iridescence. Additionally, some fossils have been found with preserved soft tissues, providing insights into the anatomy and possible life habits of these ancient cephalopods.

The extinction of Baculites, along with other ammonites, is believed to have been a result of the mass extinction event at the end of the Cretaceous, likely caused by a combination of asteroid impact, climate change, and volcanic activity. Today, Baculites fossils remain valuable to paleontologists and collectors, offering a glimpse into the diverse marine ecosystems of the Cretaceous period.