Platyceramus

Platyceramus
Temporal range: Cretaceous
Platyceramus platinus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Subclass: Pteriomorphia
Order: Praecardioida
Family: Inoceramidae
Genus: Platyceramus
Species

Several, including:
Platyceramus platinus
Platyceramus vanuxemi

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Platyceramus was a genus of Cretaceous bivalve molluscs belonging to the extinct inoceramid lineage. It is sometimes classified as a subgenus of Inoceramus.

The largest and best known species is P. platinus. Individuals of this species typically reached 1 m (3 ft 3 in) or more in axial length, but fossil specimens 3 m (nearly 10 feet) long have been found, making it the largest known bivalve. Its huge but very thin shell often provided shelter for schools of small fish, some of which became trapped and fossilized themselves, and the outer shell often provided habitat for oysters and barnacles. Shells containing pearls have also been discovered.

External links

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