Studies in evolutionary biology and biogeography increasingly rely on the estimation of
dated phylogenetic trees using molecular clocks. In turn, the calibration of such clocks is …

Use of the first appearance datum (FAD) of a fossil to define a global chronostratigraphic
unit's base can lead to intractable correlation and stability problems. FADs are diachronous …

Molluscs comprise the second largest phylum of animals (after arthropods), occurring in
virtually all habitats. Some are commercially important, a few are pests and some carry …

Despite their profound adaptations to the aquatic realm and their apparent success
throughout the Triassic and the Jurassic, ichthyosaurs became extinct roughly 30 million …

Coleoid cephalopod molluscs comprise squid, cuttlefish and octopuses, and represent
nearly the entire diversity of modern cephalopods. Sophisticated adaptations such as the …

Belemnites are an extinct group of Mesozoic coleoid cephalopods with a fossil record
ranging from the early Late Triassic [about 240 million years ago (Mya)] to the Cretaceous …

Reconstructing temperatures of ancient oceans is important for understanding Earth's
climate in deep time. Belemnites have been used widely to estimate Mesozoic seawater …

Most of the marine biotic crises that occurred during the hot Mesozoic era have been linked
to episodes of extreme warmth,. Others, however, may have occurred during cooler intervals …

Coleoid cephalopods are characterized by internalization of their shell, and are divided into
the ten‐armed Decabrachia (squids and cuttlefish) and the eight‐armed Vampyropoda …

The purpose of this work is to test the ability of laser ablation inductively coupled plasma
mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) to provide absolute ages of useful precision on calcitic …