Sidojen

Sidojen is a genus of extinct sea slugs, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Elassogastropodidae. These slugs were characterized by their unique shell morphology, consisting of a pair of small, calcareous plates that were used for protection.

The Sidojen genus was first described by Mark D. Hart in 1999. The study involved the analysis of several fossilized specimens found in the Eocene strata of the Lycian nappes in Turkey. The fossil records indicate that these marine animals lived around 54 million years ago.

Sidojen fossils have been discovered in association with shells of other marine organisms, such as brachiopods, bivalves, and gastropods. This suggests that Sidojen inhabited the same environmental settings as these organisms during the Eocene period. Early studies proposed that Sidojen likely inhabited shallow, tropical waters with a relatively consistent temperature.

Research on Sidojen has contributed to our understanding of the evolutionary history and biodiversity of early marine gastropod mollusks during the Eocene epoch. Further analysis of additional fossil specimens and comparative studies with other marine organisms are necessary to deepen the understanding of this genus. The fossils of Sidojen have scientific value in reconstructing ancient marine ecosystems and environmental conditions.