Deroceratidae

Deroceratidae is a family of ammonites, extinct marine mollusks belonging to the subclass Ammonoidea. These cephalopods are characterized by their coiled shells, which varied in coiling style from planulate to evolute. The family is part of the superfamily Perisphinctoidea, a diverse group that flourished during the Jurassic period. Deroceratids are known for their ribbed ornamentation and, in many species, the presence of internal structures called aptychi, which are believed to have served as opercula or jaw-like structures. Fossils of Deroceratidae are found in marine sedimentary rocks primarily from the Middle to Upper Jurassic epochs. The distribution of these fossils indicates a widespread presence in the ancient Tethys Sea and other Jurassic marine environments. Fossil evidence suggests that Deroceratidae likely inhabited open marine conditions. Their precise ecological role is inferred from their morphology and the general understanding of ammonite biology, suggesting they were nektonic predators or scavengers. The taxonomy of Deroceratidae includes several genera such as Deroceras, Pseudodadoceras, and Dorsoplanites, each with distinct shell features and stratigraphic ranges. The study of Deroceratidae contributes to our understanding of Jurassic paleogeography, paleoecology, and ammonite evolution.