Ammonites' last meal: New light on past marine food chains

Thursday, January 6, 2011 - 15:40 in Paleontology & Archaeology

Scientists have discovered direct evidence of the diet of an important group of Ammonites, which are among the best known fossils. Using synchrotron X-rays, they imaged three fossilized mouths with micrometric resolution, digitally reconstructing the fossils' jaws and teeth in their complete form. In one specimen, they discovered fossilized plankton in the mouth. Knowledge about the diet of Ammonites may bring new insight into why these marine invertebrates became extinct, 65.5 million years ago.

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