Fenigiae

Fenigiae is a genus of extinct marine scaphopod mollusks that lived during the Triassic period. These flattened-shelled cephalopods were characterized by their distinctive shell shape, with a long, narrow, and pointed anterior end and a shorter, more rounded posterior end. Fenigiae fossils have been found in various locations around the world, including Africa, Asia, and South America.

The Fenigiae genus was first described by the German malacologist Ferdinand Stoliczka in 1873. Stoliczka proposed the name Fenigiae based on the name of the holotype specimen's location, Feni, a village in what is now India. The genus name is derived from the Greek word "fenos," meaning "shell" or "mouth," in reference to the animal's distinctive shell shape.

Fenigiae shells were typically around 10-20 cm in length and 2-5 cm in width, with a maximum length of up to 30 cm. The shell was composed of two parts: a long, narrow siphonal canal at the anterior end and a larger, more rounded aperture at the posterior end. The shell's surface was smooth and could be colored in various shades of brown, gray, and white.

Fenigiae are believed to have been part of a diverse array of marine life during the Triassic period, which included other cephalopods, such as ammonites and belemnites, as well as other marine animals like fish and corals. The discovery of Fenigiae fossils has provided valuable insights into the evolution and diversity of marine life during this time period.