Argonauta oweri facts for kids

Argonauta oweri was a type of octopus that lived a very long time ago. It is now extinct, meaning it no longer exists on Earth. This ancient octopus belonged to a group called argonauts. Scientists found its remains in New Zealand. It lived during a time called the early Pliocene epoch. This was a period in Earth's history that ended about 2.5 million years ago.

What Was Argonauta Oweri?

Argonauta oweri was an extinct species of argonautid octopus. Argonauts are a special group of octopuses. They are known for the beautiful, paper-thin shells that the females create. These shells are not attached to their bodies. Instead, they are used as a safe place to lay eggs. They also help the octopus float.

Its Amazing Fossil Eggcase

Scientists learned about Argonauta oweri from a fossil eggcase. This fossil is called the "type specimen". It is the main example used to describe the species. The fossil eggcase was quite large. It measured about 118 millimeters (or 4.6 inches) across. Its opening, called the aperture, was 95 millimeters high. It was also 40 millimeters wide at its widest point. The fossil was a bit squashed, but still showed its shape.

Where Was It Found?

The fossil was found by John R. Ower. He worked for the Superior Oil Company. The species was named after him. He discovered the fossil inside a "limy concretionary boulder." This is a hard, round rock made of lime. The boulder was found in the Hautapu River in New Zealand. This location is west of Flat Spur. It is also about 1.4 kilometers (or 0.87 miles) southeast of Utiku.

The fossil was not found in situ. This means it was not found in its original place in the ground. So, scientists do not know the exact rock layer it came from. However, the Hautapu River flows only through rocks from the early Pliocene period. Because of this, scientists believe the fossil came from the "Waitotaran" horizon. This is a specific time period within the Pliocene in New Zealand.