Somalinautilus

Somalinautilus is a group of ancient sea creatures called nautiloids. They lived in the Middle to Upper Jurassic period. Fossils of these creatures have been found in places like England, France, and Somaliland.

This group includes three main types, called species: S. antiquus, S. fuscus, and S. clausus. Each of these was first thought to belong to a different group called Nautilus before being placed in the Somalinautilus group.

What makes Somalinautilus special are two features of their shells. The bottom part, called the venter, is curved upward and not very tall. The edges along this bottom part are slightly angled. These features help scientists tell Somalinautilus apart from its close relatives, such as Paracenoceras, Tithonoceras, and Aulaconautilus. Over time, scientists have changed how they group these creatures, moving them between larger families before settling on calling them part of the family Paracenoceratidae again.