Seals, whales and the Cenozoic decline of nautiloid cephalopods
Journal
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
Journal Volume
49
Journal Issue
11
Pages
1903-1910
Date Issued
2022-09-27
Author(s)
Abstract
Aim: Nautilus and Allonautilus, last members of the once widespread nautiloid cephalopods, are today restricted to the deep central Indo-West Pacific Ocean, for reasons that remain unclear. Cephalopod evolution is generally considered as being driven by vertebrate predation; therefore, we investigated the role of whales and seals in the decline of nautiloids through the Cenozoic. Location: Global. Taxon: Nautiloids, pinnipeds, cetaceans. Methods: Distribution data for nautiloids, pinnipeds and cetaceans through the Cenozoic were compiled and plotted on a series of paleogeographic maps. Nautiloid shell sizes were compiled and plotted against the first appearance of pinnipeds and cetaceans in key regions. Results: From the Oligocene onward, nautiloids became extinct in areas where pinnipeds appeared. The exception is the agile nautiloid Aturia, extinct globally at the end of the Miocene. A major role of odontocetes in the demise of nautiloids is not apparent, except for a few brevirostrine Oligocene taxa from the North American Atlantic and Pacific coasts, which appeared in these areas at the same time as nautilids disappeared. The Oligocene disappearance of nautiloids (except Aturia) from the American Pacific coasts coincides with the development of oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) in this region. Main conclusions: We hypothesize that the Cenozoic spread of pinnipeds drove nautiloids into their present-day central Indo-West Pacific refuge. Additional factors for the local extinction of nautiloids in the Oligocene include predation by short-snouted whales and the development of OMZs, preventing nautiloids from retreating into deeper water.
Subjects
deep-sea; extinction; living fossils; marine mammals; Nautilus; oxygen minimum zones; predator-driven evolution; EVOLUTION; OLIGOCENE; ADAPTATIONS; EXTINCTION; AMMONITES; ORIGIN; ATURIA
SDGs
Publisher
WILEY
Type
journal article