Cucullaea gigantea
Cucullaea gigantea | |
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Fossilized false ark shell clam from Maryland, USA | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Bivalvia |
Order: | Arcida |
Family: | Cucullaeidae |
Genus: | Cucullaea |
Species: | C. gigantea |
Binomial name | |
Cucullaea gigantea |
Cucullaea gigantea is an extinct species of false ark shell found in the United States, in the Aquia Formation in Maryland[3] and Virginia along the Potomac River and its tributaries,[4] and in Alabama.[5] They flourished in marine environments during the Paleocene, ranging from 58.7 to 55.8 million years ago.[6]
Cucullaea gigantea average about 8–14 cm in length, about twice the size of its relative Cucullaea recendens which average 5–8 cm.
Cucullaea were infaunal suspension feeders, meaning they burrowed into the seafloor and strained their food from the water.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/Cucullaea_gigantea_%28back%29.jpg/220px-Cucullaea_gigantea_%28back%29.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/Cucullaea_gigantea_%28top%29.jpg/220px-Cucullaea_gigantea_%28top%29.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/Cucullaea_gigantea_%28bottom%29.jpg/220px-Cucullaea_gigantea_%28bottom%29.jpg)
References
[edit]- ^ "WMSD - Worldwide mollusc species DB - Cucullaea gigantea". Bagniliggia.it. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
- ^ Nomenclatural Review of Genera and Subgenera of Cucullaeidae by David Nicol, Journal of Paleontology, Vol. 28, No. 1 (Jan., 1954), pp. 96-101
- ^ Reports Dealing with the Systematic Geology and Paleontology of Maryland Vol. 1 Eocene by Maryland Geologic Survey, p.196, Baltimore, Johns Hopkins Press 1901
- ^ "Lower Tertiary Deposits (VATl;0)". Mrdata.usgs.gov. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
- ^ "PBDB". Paleobiodb.org. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
- ^ "Fossilworks: Cucullaea gigantea". Fossilworks.org. Retrieved 17 December 2021.