Platyceramus
Encyclopedia
Platyceramus was a genus of Cretaceous
bivalve molluscs belonging to the extinct inoceramid lineage. It is sometimes classified as a subgenus
of Inoceramus
.
The largest and best known species is P. platinus. Individuals of this species typically reached 1 m (3 feet 3 inches) or more in axial length, but fossil specimens 3 m (nearly 10 feet) long have been found, making it the largest known bivalve. Its huge but very thin shell often provided shelter for schools of small fish
, some of which became trapped and fossilized themselves, and the outer shell often provided habitat
for oysters and barnacles. Shells containing pearls have also been discovered.
Cretaceous
The Cretaceous , derived from the Latin "creta" , usually abbreviated K for its German translation Kreide , is a geologic period and system from circa to million years ago. In the geologic timescale, the Cretaceous follows the Jurassic period and is followed by the Paleogene period of the...
bivalve molluscs belonging to the extinct inoceramid lineage. It is sometimes classified as a subgenus
Subgenus
In biology, a subgenus is a taxonomic rank directly below genus.In zoology, a subgeneric name can be used independently or included in a species name, in parentheses, placed between the generic name and the specific epithet: e.g. the Tiger Cowry of the Indo-Pacific, Cypraea tigris Linnaeus, which...
of Inoceramus
Inoceramus
Inoceramus is an extinct genus of fossil marine pteriomorphian bivalves that superficially resembled the related winged pearly oysters of the extant genus Pteria....
.
The largest and best known species is P. platinus. Individuals of this species typically reached 1 m (3 feet 3 inches) or more in axial length, but fossil specimens 3 m (nearly 10 feet) long have been found, making it the largest known bivalve. Its huge but very thin shell often provided shelter for schools of small fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
, some of which became trapped and fossilized themselves, and the outer shell often provided habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
for oysters and barnacles. Shells containing pearls have also been discovered.