The tentaculitid affinities of Anticalyptraea from the silurian of Baltoscandia

Abstract

The problematic fossil Anticalyptraea Quenstedt, 1867, traditionally interpreted as a phorid gastropod, is here assigned to the Class Tentaculita. Its dextrally coiled substrate-cemented tube, bulbous initial chamber, vesicular tube wall and pseudopunctate microlamellar shell structure closely resembles Trypanopora (Tentaculita), but Anticalyptraea differs in having the cones of the pseudopunctae orientated in the opposite direction. Pseudopunctae orientated similarly to Anticalyptraea occur in Cornulites and thick-walled tentaculitids. Anticalyptraea differs from gastropods in having pseudopunctae and a vesicular shell structure. © 2007 The Palaeontological Association.