Wyoming fossil discovery reveals new squid-like species

Researchers have identified a new species of belemnite, an extinct marine animal related to modern squid and octopuses, through fossils found in Wyoming. The species, named Wyoteuthis linsterorum, dates back to the Jurassic Period, approximately 160 million years ago.

Found in the Sundance Formation, the fossils feature unusually thick, barrel-shaped internal skeletons, or rostra, measuring about 60 millimeters across. This distinctive shape has led researchers to describe the specimens as the “chunkiest” or “fattest” belemnites ever identified in the fossil record. While the fossilized rostrum is roughly 4 inches long, scientists estimate the full animal may have reached nearly 2 feet in length.

The discovery is significant because Wyoteuthis linsterorum belongs to a rare family that had previously been thought to have disappeared millions of years earlier, providing new evidence regarding the survival timeline of this group.