Phragmocone (Noun)
Meaning
The thin conical chambered internal shell (either straight or curved) of a belemnite.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- The phragmocone, containing several camerae separated by thin walls of nacre, was responsible for the buoyancy and balance of the belemnite while swimming.
- After studying the fossil, paleontologists were able to identify the species by the characteristics of its curved phragmocone.
- Belemnites had a unique phragmocone that aided them in maintaining their upright posture while gliding through the water.
- During development, a new camera in the phragmocone was formed from secretions of the internal mantle epithelium of the belemnite.
- It was through careful analysis of the phragmocone that scientists discovered the presence of the rare belemnite species in the area.