Goniatitina facts for kids

Goniatitina are an extinct group of ancient sea creatures. They were a type of ammonoid, which are distant relatives of today's squids and cuttlefish. These fascinating animals lived in the oceans millions of years ago, long before dinosaurs roamed the Earth.

What are Goniatitina?

Goniatitina belong to a larger group called Goniatitida. Think of them as a special family within the bigger group of goniatites. All goniatites, including Goniatitina, were cephalopods. This means they were part of the same animal group as modern octopuses, squids, and cuttlefish.

Ancient Ocean Dwellers

These creatures lived for a very long time. Their fossils show they were around from the Devonian Period (about 419 million years ago) all the way to the end of the Permian Period (about 252 million years ago). They swam in ancient oceans, hunting for food and avoiding predators.

Their Unique Shells

Like many ammonoids, Goniatitina had a hard, spiral shell. This shell was divided into many chambers. The animal lived in the largest, outermost chamber. The other chambers were filled with gas and water. This allowed the Goniatitina to control its buoyancy, helping it float or sink in the water. Their shells often had special patterns on the inside walls called sutures. These patterns are unique to different types of ammonoids. Scientists use these patterns to identify different species.

Why Did They Disappear?

Sadly, Goniatitina, along with many other forms of life, became extinct. This happened during the Permian-Triassic extinction event. This was the largest mass extinction in Earth's history. About 90% of all marine species died out. Scientists believe this event was caused by massive volcanic eruptions. These eruptions changed the climate and ocean chemistry, making it impossible for many species, including Goniatitina, to survive.