New vampyromorph (vampire squid relative) from the Middle Jurassic period

[Faelrin]

This is the second paper I've grabbed from the recent Ben G Thomas video.

Vampyrofugiens atramentum is its name. Great find, and a rather cute one. Or would have been if were still alive anyways. From the La Voulte-sur-Rhône lagerstätte, located within France. This seems to be the second(?) genus of vampyromorph reported from there, as another called Vampyronassa rhodanica was described from there in 2002.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/spp2.1511

Image from the paper:



Reconstruction from the paper (not sure who the artist is sorry, if anyone does please comment below, but man it's so cute):



If CollectA's sees this, please make a figure of this little guy next year or the year after. I beg of you.

[Lynx]

I misread this as vampire squirrel and was so confused when a picture of a squid popped up

[Skorpio V.]

prime collecta material omg

[Halichoeres]

Help us, CollectA, you're our only hope!

If a paper includes a life reconstruction or similar illustration, you'll usually find it credited in the acknowledgments. In this case it's Alexandre Lethiers.

[Faelrin]

@Halichoeres Thanks for sharing that info. Now I'll know for next time I share something like this.

[Patrx]

Fascinating! My roommate will be thrilled, he loves vampire squid.

[BlueKrono]

In addition to a few prehistoric clades I also collect deep sea life, including vampire squid. I would absolutely buy this if someone made it.