Belemnites (genus)

Belemnites Temporal range: Early Jurassic PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
Belemnites hastatus from Switzerland
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Cephalopoda
(unranked):	Belemnoidea
Genus:	Belemnites

Belemnites is a genus of an extinct group of cephalopods belonging to the order Belemnitida. These cephalopods existed in the Early Jurassic period from the Hettangian age (196.5–199.6 mya) to the Toarcian age (175.6–183.0). They were fast-moving nektonic carnivores.

Be careful not to confuse the scientific name Belemnites of this genus with the common name of the cephalopods included in the extinct order Belemnitida (commonly referred to as "Belemnites").