protokolliids

Protokolliids are a group of ancient ammonoidea, a clade of cephalopod mollusks that lived during the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras. They are characterized by their coiled shells, which are divisible into two main groups: the Sphenodiscidae and the Discorophidae.

Members of the Protokolliids were generally small, ranging in size from a few millimeters to several centimeters. Their shells were often ornamented with distinctive patterns, including tubercles, ridges, and spiral furrows. The suture patterns and shoulder shapes of the shells are used as key features for identifying Protokolliid species.

Protokolliids are found in fossil records from the Permian, Early Triassic, and Middle Triassic periods. These marine snails likely inhabited warm, shallow waters, where they likely preyed upon small invertebrate animals. Their extinct relatives continue to be a subject of interest to paleontologists, as they provide insights into the evolution of the cephalopod lineage.