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The Function of the Belemnite Guard

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Kurzfassung

Anhand vonCylindroteuthis puzosiana (d’Orbigny) wurde ein Belemnitentier rekonstruiert, an dem Auftriebspunkt und Schwerpunkt bestimmt wurden. Die Gasfüllung des Phragmokons erwies sich als ausreichend für die Schwebfähigkeit des Tieres. Um die Bedeutung des Rostrums für die Schwebfähigkeit zu bestimmen, wurden physikalische Parameter eines Belemnitentieres ohne Rostrum berechnet. Ein Modell eines Belemnitentieres wurde im Windkanal getestet. Dabei zeigte es sich, daß Flossen am Rostrum zum Erzeugen von dynamischem Auftrieb gedient haben können.

Abstract

A reconstruction of the belemnite animal was performed onCylindroteuthis puzosiana (d’Orbigny) to locate the centres of buoyancy and mass. The gas inclusion was found to be sufficient to provide neutral buoyancy. The reconstruction was modified to represent a belemnite without a guard, and its mechanics compared with the real belemnite. A model of a belemnite was tested in a wind tunnel, and showed that fins on the rostrum could have been used to generate dynamic lift.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Palaeontology, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD, London, UK

    Neale Monks

  2. Royal School of Mines, Imperial College, Prince Consort Road, SW7 2AZ, London, UK

    Neale Monks

  3. Department of Civil Engineering, Imperial College, Imperial College Road, SW7 2AZ, London, UK

    J. David Hardwick

  4. School of Earth Sciences, University of Greenwich, ME4 4AW, Pembroke, Chatham Maritime, Kent, UK

    Andrew S. Gale

  5. Department of Palaeontology, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD, London, UK

    Andrew S. Gale

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  1. Neale Monks
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  2. J. David Hardwick
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  3. Andrew S. Gale
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Monks, N., Hardwick, J.D. & Gale, A.S. The Function of the Belemnite Guard. Paläont. Z. 70, 425–431 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02988082

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02988082

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