What is Promissum?
[[File:Promissum NT small.jpg|thumb|180x180px|Life restoration of ''Promissum pulchrum'']] '''''Promissum''''' is an extinct genus of [[conodont]] from the Upper [[Ordovician]] period. It is macrophagous, meaning it is probably a nektonic carnivore. It is one of the very few specimens preserving a body outline. Well-preserved specimens were discovered in the [[Soom Shale|Soom shale]] of [[South Africa]] in 1994. A preserved specimen of this behemoth reveals details of the trunk musculature, feeding apparatus and eyes. == Description == ''Promissum'' was a rather large [[conodont]], up to 40 cm (16 inch). It had a primitive mouth under its eyes with mineralized teeth. It looked like a small [[eel]] or large [[worm]], lacking any kind of fins except for perhaps a small one on the tail. It was probably capable of maintaining a cruising speed. However, it could not maintain rapid bursts of speed. [[File:Conodont species size comparison.png|center|thumb|690x690px|A comparison of ''Promissum'' with other conodonts]] == References == # <small>Palmer, D., ed. (1999). ''The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals''. London: Marshall Editions. p. 23. [[International Standard Book Number|ISBN]] <bdi>[[:en:Special:BookSources/1-84028-152-9|1-84028-152-9]]</bdi>.</small> [[Category:Animals of Africa]]