Ammonoid Paleobiology: From anatomy to ecology

This two-volume work is a testament to the abiding interest and human fascination with ammonites. We offer a new model to explain the morphogenesis of septa and the shell, we explore their habitats by the content of stable isotopes in their shells, we discuss the origin and later evolution of this important clade, and we deliver hypotheses on its demise. The Ammonoidea produced a great number of species that can be used in biostratigraphy and possibly, this is the macrofossil group, which has been used the most for that purpose. Nevertheless, many aspects of their anatomy, mode of life, development or paleobiogeographic distribution are still poorly known. 

Themes treated are biostratigraphy, paleoecology, paleoenvironment, paleobiogeography, evolution, phylogeny, and ontogeny. Advances such as an explosion of new information about ammonites, new technologies such as isotopic analysis, tomography and virtual paleontology in general, as well as continuous discovery of new fossil finds have given us the opportunity to present a comprehensive and timely "state of the art" compilation. Moreover, it also points the way for future studies to further enhance our understanding of this endlessly fascinating group of organisms.

PART I – Conch

1 Describing ammonoid conchs

Christian Klug, Dieter Korn, Neil H. Landman, Kazushige Tanabe,
Kenneth De Baets and Carole Naglik

2 Colour patterns

Royal H. Mapes and Neal L. Larson

3 Ammonoid septa and sutures

Christian Klug and René Hoffmann

4 Cameral membranes, pseudosutures, and other soft tissue imprints in ammonoid shells

Kristin Polizzotto, Neil H. Landman and Christian Klug

PART II - Ontogeny

5 Ammonoid embryonic development

Kenneth De Baets, Neil H. Landman and Kazushige Tanabe

6 Theoretical modelling of the molluscan shell: what has been learned from the comparison among molluscan taxa?

Severine Urdy

7 Mature modifications and sexual dimorphism

Christian Klug, Michal Zaton, Horacio Parent, Bernard Hostettler and
Amane Tajika

8 Ammonoid shell microstructure

Cyprian Kulicki, Kazushige Tanabe, Neil H. Landman and Andrzej Kaim

9 Ammonoid intraspecific

Kenneth De Baets, Didier Bert, René Hofmann, Claude Monnet,
Margaret M. Yacobucci and Christian Klug

PART III - Anatomy

10 Ammonoid buccal mass and jaw apparatus

Kazushige Tanabe, Isabelle Kruta and Neil H. Landman

11 Ammonoid radulae

Isabelle Kruta, Neil H. Landman, and Kazushige Tanabe

12 Soft-part anatomy of ammonoids:

reconstructing the animal based on exceptionally preserved specimens and
actualistic comparisons

Christian Klug and Jens Lehmann

13 Soft-part anatomy of the siphuncle in ammonoids

Kazushige Tanabe, Takenori Sasaki and Royal H. Mapes

14 Muscle scars in ammonoid shells

Larisa A. Doguzhaeva and Royal H. Mapes

15 The additional external shell layers indicative of “endocochleate experiments” in some ammonoids

Larisa A. Doguzhaeva and Harry Mutvei

PART IV – Habit and habitats

16 Ammonoid buoyancy

René Hoffmann, Robert Lemanis, Carole Naglik

17 Ammonoid locomotion

Carole Naglik, Amane Tajika, John A. Chamberlain and Christian Klug

18 Ammonoid habitats and life history

Alexander Lukeneder

19 Isotope signature of ammonoid shells

Kazuyoshi Moriya

20 Parasites of ammonoids

Kenneth De Baets, Helmut Keupp and Christian Klug

21 Ammonoid paleopathology

Helmut Keupp and René Hoffmann