**Permoceras**
**Definition**
Permoceras is an extinct genus of nautiloid cephalopods that lived during the Permian period. It is characterized by its coiled, planispiral shell and complex suture patterns.
**Overview**
Permoceras belongs to the order Nautilida, a group of marine mollusks known for their external shells and tentacled bodies. This genus is notable for its well-developed, tightly coiled shell, which provided buoyancy and protection. The shell exhibits intricate suture lines, which are the junctions between the shell chambers, indicating evolutionary advancements in shell structure.
**Morphology**
The shell of Permoceras is generally smooth with a rounded whorl section. Its siphuncle, a tube-like structure used for regulating buoyancy, is centrally located. The complex sutures suggest a more derived nautiloid compared to earlier forms.
**Paleobiology and Distribution**
Fossils of Permoceras have been found in marine sedimentary rocks dating to the late Permian, primarily in regions that were part of the ancient Panthalassic Ocean. These cephalopods likely occupied mid-level marine environments, preying on smaller marine organisms.
**Significance**
Permoceras provides valuable insight into the evolutionary history of nautiloids and the marine ecosystems preceding the Permian-Triassic extinction event.
**Meta Description**
Permoceras is an extinct genus of nautiloid cephalopods from the Permian period, known for its coiled shell and complex sutures. It offers important information on nautiloid evolution and Permian marine life.