Rare Wyoming fossils reveal unusually broad Jurassic belemnite
Two rare fossils from Wyoming’s Sundance Formation belong to a new belemnite species, Wyoteuthis linsterorum, a relative of squid and octopuses. Its internal skeleton was about 10 centimeters long but unusually wide at roughly 6 centimeters, making it the thickest belemnite known. The animal lived around 160 million years ago and may have been a predator of smaller squid-like creatures.
Belemnites are common fossils, usually represented only by hard internal guards. Most Sundance Formation examples are narrow, 5–10 cm long and 1–2 cm wide. The new species’ guard is about 10 cm long and 6 cm wide. CT scans let researchers inspect internal anatomy without harming the specimens.
The scans linked the fossil to a belemnite family thought to have vanished long before this animal. Although belemnites have been studied for over two centuries, this find stood out sharply from regional specimens. The living animal may have reached roughly 60 cm including arms.
The find could draw public attention to paleontology and museum exhibits, giving educators a vivid example of how CT scanning and international collaboration can revise evolutionary histories. Fossil hunters and local communities in Wyoming may see increased interest in regional collections, while researchers may use the specimen to test ideas about Jurassic marine ecosystems. Its impact is likely scientific and educational rather than immediate for most people.