Hoplites (ammonite)

Hoplites dentatus

• Europe
• Mexico
• Asia

• H. benettianus (J. de C. Sowerby 1826)
• H. dentatus (J. Sowerby 1821)
• H. stone manni Jacob, 1907

Hoplites is a genus of ammonite from the Cretaceous period. It is the type genus of a larger ammonite family, Hoplitidae.

Features

The housing having a laterally somewhat constricted rectangular to slightly trapezoidal cross-section flattened. The genus is characterized by particularly strong and curved forward ribs emanating from thickened on the umbilical shoulders. Can be one or two more ribs that target slightly higher between these primary ribs on. The ribs are interrupted at the Venter and there are alternating or opponierend opposite. They end up in small nodules.

Occurrence and stratigraphic range

Representatives of the genus Hoplites are found mainly in Europe and in Mexico. Another occurrence is in the Trans- Caspian region, ie the Asian side of the Caspian Sea. In the temporal occurrence they are limited to the Middle Albian of the Cretaceous period.

System

The sooner rather large and broad genre is now highly concentrated and limited to a few species that are closely related to the type species of the genus. The other species were assigned new, the genus Hoplites closely related genera. The close relationship of the new species with the old genus Hoplites is expressed with the second part of their name, hoplites, with the ends of many of the new species. The genus is divided by some authors into two subgenera, the Nominatuntergattung Hoplites ( Hoplites ) Neumayr, 1875 and Hoplites ( Isohoplites ) Casey, 1954.