First record of a belemnite preserved with beaks, arms and ink sac from the Nusplingen Lithographic Limestone (Kimmeridgian, SW Germany)

Abstract

A recent discovery of an unusually preserved belemnite from Nusplingen comprises the extraordinarily rare remains of beaks and nearly in situ arm hooks, as well as the ink sac and an incomplete phragmocone. So far, Hibolithes semisulcatus (Münster, 1830) is the only belemnite known from the Nusplingen Lithographic Limestone (Upper Jurassic, Late Kimmeridgian, Beckeri Zone, Ulmense Subzone; SW Germany) that has the same phragmocone shape and size, and thus we assign the new specimen to this taxon. The rostrum was probably lost due to a lethal predation attempt in which the prey was killed but not entirely eaten. For the first time a specimen reveals details of the belemnite beak morphology, which we compare with the beaks of other Jurassic coleoids. This specimen presently represents the only known rostrum-bearing belemnite of post-Toarcian age with preserved non-mineralized body parts. With the new discovery, Nusplingen now represents the only locality which has yielded complete beak apparatuses from all major Jurassic cephalopod groups.