Cameroceras

The Orthocone "Cameroceras" is a big invertebrate from the Ordovician. It was the largest animal to have ever existed during that time. They are also animals in the Koba Files Series.

## Facts

### Physical appearance and biology

The*Orthocone is* a large mollusk that belonged to the nautiloids, such as the modern *Nautilus*. It had several tentacles, which, unlike the tentacles of modern cephalopods like the cuttlefish and the squid, didn't range in size, but were of a generally similar length. Also, these tentacles didn't have suction cups, but rather the tentacles were ridged on their inner side. They were often said to be as long as a truck.

In the center of its face was a large, sharp, parrot-like beak that was used to crush through carapaces of such arthropods like *Megalograptus*.

It had large, primitive eyes which were sensitive to contact with bright lights.

At the bottom of the animal was a tube-shaped device called a hyponome. This was used to propel the animal through the water.

The*Orthocone*has a long, cone-shaped shell which was covered in stripes. The shell was largely hollow, the mollusk occupied only its front end, and the rest of it consisted of gas-filled chambers that could be flooded with water, which could be expelled lately. In this manner *Cameroceras* adjusted its buoyancy and weight as it rose to the surface or sank - this creature wasn't very manouverable.

### Behaviour and traits

The Orthocone was an alpha predator of the Ordovician, as it was the largest animal. Most of its size consisted of its long, narrow shell. The size ratio between the shell and the animal itself was very large - the shell could amount up to 90% of the animal's entire length.

The*Orthocone* lived in dimly-lit parts of the sea as its eyes were very primitive and were sensitive to light. In any instance where bright light came in contact with its eyes, the mollusk would try to escape it.

The primary weapon of the*Orthocone* was its beak. Once it caught its prey, it would drag the animal towards its beak with its tentacles. The beak would then crack apart the carapace and would then proceed in feeding on the softer innards.

## Koba Files Series

A shoal of Carmeroceras appeared in a fishing village. They were seen eat fish that the fisherman were about to catch. The creatures often eat the bait or the catches. They were all eating up the fish, in which the fisherman thinks that they declare war on them. They'd even had a meeting at town hall: by saying they should kill them before they eat up the fish.

Half the citizens of the town said that they should let the town's marine biologists study them. Some of the, say that they should or the town would be doom.

The marine biologists get the fisherman were mad & said they should relocate the animals. But the fisherman protested they needed to have or else if they don't, then the money would stop coming to them, not only their families would starve, but also the town's people (& themselves) would starve too. The scientists knew they were right: but killing was not 1 of them. The marine biologists called the Creature Protection Team. They were given the exact location of the cameroceras. They then were at the docks: where the shoal was. The animals were then captured & taken to the aquarium for research. Then a conservation program started up & the aquarium stuff had an idea. They put the animals in the open ocean exhibit. In which they would make an announcement: which would say, "Do you love the ocean? Help support the Ocean Conservation by coming down to the Cameroceras exhibit: where you can see live cameroceras. Come on down & say hi!"