Genus of Cretaceous cephalopods
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Enchoteuthis (meaning "spear squid") is an extinct genus of large enchoteuthine cephalopod that lived during the Cretaceous. Although it and its relative "Tusoteuthis" are often compared to squid, both are now thought to be more closely related to modern octopuses. Examination of gladius remains initially yielded an estimated mantle length about based on specimen once described as "Tusoteuthis longa", close to or equal to that of the modern giant squid, although reclassification of this genus as a muensterelloid results in a much shorter total length, about . Three species are currently recognized as valid: "E. melanae", "E. tonii", and "E. cobbani".
Etymology.
The generic name "Enchoteuthis" is derived from the Greek "enchos" ("spear") and "teuthis" ("squid"). The specific name "melanae" honors Melanie Bonner, who discovered the holotype. "E. cobbani" is named after William Cobban.
Distribution.
"E. melanae" and "E. cobbani" are both known from the Late Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway of North America, with specimens found in Kansas, Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Manitoba. "E. tonii" is known from the Early Cretaceous Eromanga Seaway of Australia. An additional unnamed species is known from the Late Cretaceous Paleo-Pacific Ocean of North America, specifically British Columbia and Alaska.
References.
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