Why Cephalopods Lost Their Protective Shells
by Lori Dorn from Laughing Squid on (#4B0K0)
In a dibranchiate episode of PBS Eons, host Hank Green explains the long evolutionary process in which ancestral cephalopods eventually lost their distinctive shells. Except for the nautilus, which as a living fossil, remains protected under its hard covering.
Related Laughing Squid PostsA Fascinating Timeline Showing When Modern Cephalopods Shed Their Ancient Mantle ShellsKQED's 'Deep Look' Explores How and Why Squid and Other Cephalopods Change ColorAmmonoid Plushie, A Cuddly New Stuffed Cephalopod Paleozoic PalThe ancestors of modern, squishy cephalopods like the octopus and the squid all had shells. In ancient times, their shell was their greatest asset but it eventually proved to be their biggest weakness.
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The post Why Cephalopods Lost Their Protective Shells first appeared on Laughing Squid.