Leptoteuthis gigas with perfect soft part preservation

Sordes

Wonderpus
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Here are some photos of a wonderful specimen of Leptoteuthis gigas from the paleontological museum at Tübingen. It is around 151 Mio years old and was found at Nusplingen, Germany. The size is quite impressive, it´s about as big as a medium-sized Dosidicus gigas, only with shorter arms.
 

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This "structures" look indeed very unusual, a bit like the polyp-tentacles seen in some sea anemones. I don´t think they are hooks, as they are not only too thick but also completely lack any pointed tip.
 
Amazing stuff here Sordes, your new posts have prompted me to go back and read your old threads, you really shouldn't stay away for so long! :smile:
 
The "noodly appendages" also have some similarity with extant squid's trabeculae, such as seen in Dosidicus or Thysanoteuthis
 

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