Vampyronassa

Vampyronassa rhodanica ("vampire fish trap") is an extinct vampyromorph cephalopod known from around 20 fossils from the Lower Callovian (165–164 Ma) of La Voulte-sur-Rhône, Ardèche, France.^[1]

Vampyronassa Temporal range: Middle Jurassic
Pyritized fossil of Vampyronassa rhodanica from Voulte-sur-Rhône, France.
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Cephalopoda
Order:	Vampyromorphida
Family:	Vampyroteuthidae
Genus:	†Vampyronassa Fischer & Riou, 2002
Species:	†V. rhodanica
Binomial name
†Vampyronassa rhodanica Fischer & Riou, 2002

Morphology

Photograph (a) and X-ray CT analysed image (b)-(e) of holotype specimen

Vampyronassa reached total length about 10 cm (3.9 in).^[2] This taxon differs from the modern vampire squid in having longer first dorsal arms, a larger hyponome, and a more elongated mantle. The original description noted possible luminous organs^[1] which a restudy could not confirm.^[2] It had eight arms with uniserial suckers flanked by cirri, same as modern vampire squid. Retractile filaments that is known from modern vampire squid is not known in Vampyronassa.^[2] Like vampire squid, Vampyronassa lacked an ink sac.^[2]

Classification

Vampyronassa shares some characters with modern vampire squid Vampyroteuthis, such as lack of ink sac and unique type of sucker attachment.^[2] Analysis supports the sister relationship between Vampyronassa and Vampyroteuthis.^[2]

Palaeoecology

Life reconstruction of V. rhodanica

Although modern vampire squid are deep-sea opportunistic detritivore and zooplanktivore, Vampyronassa is estimated to have been an active predator following a pelagic mode of life according to characteristics of its arms.^[2] Considering Oligocene vampyromorph Necroteuthis probably had a deep-sea mode of life,^[3] initial shift of vampiromorphs to offshore environments was possibly driven by onshore competition.^[2]

References

1. Fischer, Jean-Claude; Riou, Bernard (2002-01-01). "Vampyronassa rhodanica nov. gen. nov sp., vampyromorphe (Cephalopoda, Coleoidea) du Callovien inférieur de la Voulte-sur-Rhône (Ardèche, France)". Annales de Paléontologie (in French). 88 (1): 1–17. Bibcode:2002AnPal..88....1F. doi:10.1016/S0753-3969(02)01037-6. ISSN 0753-3969.
2. Rowe, Alison J.; Kruta, Isabelle; Landman, Neil H.; Villier, Loïc; Fernandez, Vincent; Rouget, Isabelle (2022-06-23). "Exceptional soft-tissue preservation of Jurassic Vampyronassa rhodanica provides new insights on the evolution and palaeoecology of vampyroteuthids". Scientific Reports. 12 (1): 8292. Bibcode:2022NatSR..12.8292R. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-12269-3. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 9225997. PMID 35739131.
3. Košťák, Martin; Schlögl, Ján; Fuchs, Dirk; Holcová, Katarína; Hudáčková, Natalia; Culka, Adam; Fözy, István; Tomašových, Adam; Milovský, Rastislav; Šurka, Juraj; Mazuch, Martin (2021-02-18). "Fossil evidence for vampire squid inhabiting oxygen-depleted ocean zones since at least the Oligocene". Communications Biology. 4 (1): 216. doi:10.1038/s42003-021-01714-0. ISSN 2399-3642. PMC 7893013. PMID 33603225.