Belemnite (extinct cephalopods)

Belemnites were extinct marine creatures related to modern squids and octopuses, belonging to a group called cephalopods. They thrived during the Mesozoic Era, particularly in the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. Belemnites had elongated, bullet-shaped shells made of calcite, which helped them maintain buoyancy. Fossilized remains, often found in sedimentary rocks, reveal their presence in ancient oceans. They were agile predators, likely feeding on small fish and other marine organisms. Their extinction, around 66 million years ago, coincided with the mass extinction event that also wiped out the dinosaurs.