Orthoconic Cephalopods

---

Time: Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian, Carboniferous, Permian, Triassic

Region: Global distribution (Sweden, Czech Republic, USA, etc.)

Formation: Multiple localities worldwide

Coloration Data

To date, numerous shells of orthoconic cephalopods preserving distinct traces of original in-life color patterns have been recovered. These pigment traces typically manifest as longitudinal or transverse bands — ranging from continuous lines to irregular, interrupted striping — as well as chevron and zigzag motifs.

Method: Macroscopic and microscopic visual examination of preserved pigment patterns on fossil shells.

Publications

• David R. Kobluk & Royal H. Mapes (1989)
  A review article on the coloration of Paleozoic marine invertebrates.
• Manda Š., Turek V. (2025)
  Overview of the coloration patterns of orthoconic cephalopods from the Paleozoic era.
• Jakob Vinther (2015)
  An overview of methods for reconstructing paleo‑coloration.

Documents and files

• Manda_&_Turek_2025.pdf (PDF)
  Article by Manda & Turek (2025).
• Vinther_2015.pdf (PDF)
  Review article on fossil color reconstruction.

Reconstructions

Fossils