Goniatite facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Goniatite |
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| A polished Goniatite fossil | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Cephalopoda |
| Subclass: | †Ammonoidea |
| Order: | †Goniatitida Hyatt, 1884 |
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Goniatites were ancient sea creatures that lived a very long time ago. They are a type of ammonite, which means they belong to a group of animals called cephalopods. This group also includes modern-day octopuses, squids, and nautiluses. Goniatites first appeared in the Middle Devonian period, about 390 million years ago. They swam in the oceans for millions of years before becoming extinct.
What were Goniatites?
Goniatites were marine animals with a hard outer shell. This shell protected their soft bodies. Like other ammonites, their shells were coiled, often in a spiral shape. Inside the shell, there were many small rooms or "chambers." These chambers were filled with gas. This gas helped the goniatite float in the water, much like a submarine uses ballast tanks.
How did Goniatites live?
The goniatite animal lived in the largest, open chamber at the front of its shell. It had a head with two good eyes. It also had arms or tentacles, which it likely used to catch food. Goniatites were free-swimming predators. They moved through the water by sucking in water and then pushing it out through a special tube called a siphuncle. This tube ran through all the chambers of their shell.
Where are Goniatite fossils found?
Goniatites lived in many parts of the world's ancient oceans. Their fossils are quite common. You can often find them in limestone or shale rocks. These rocks formed from sediments in ancient inland seas. If you look in rocks from the late Paleozoic era, especially from areas that were once tropical or subtropical, you might find goniatite fossils. These fossils help scientists learn about Earth's past environments and the creatures that lived in them.
