Syllipsimopodi

Syllipsimopodi is an extinct member of the cephalopod subclass Coleoidea belonging to the clade Vampyropoda, which includes octopuses (Octopoda) and vampire squids (Vampyromorphida).[1] The type and only known species is Syllipsimopodi bideni, named in honor of US President Joe Biden, and to raise awareness of his climate change policies.[2][1][3] The well-preserved holotype fossil was found in the Bear Gulch Limestone deposit in the US state of Montana in 1988.[1][3] Individuals were 12 cm (4.7 in) long and had 10 arms with suckers, with two of the arms being longer than the others.[3] It is currently the oldest known vampyropod and the oldest known cephalopod with suckers on its arms.[3]

Overview of neocoleoid interrelationships and divergence time estimates, showing the position of Syllipsimopodi bideni.

Syllipsimopodi
Temporal range: Mississippian
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Cephalopoda
Superorder: Octopodiformes
Genus: †Syllipsimopodi
Whalen & Landman, 2022[1]
Species:
†S. bideni
Binomial name
†Syllipsimopodi bideni
Whalen & Landman, 2022[1]

The squid was named after Joe Biden, who was president of the United States at the time of its discovery. Whalen Landman said in an intrview that this name was chosen because they were, “encouraged by his plans to address climate change and to fund scientific research”.[4]

References
  1. Whalen, C. D.; Landman, N. H. (2022). "Fossil coleoid cephalopod from the Mississippian Bear Gulch Lagerstätte sheds light on early vampyropod evolution". Nature Communications. 13 (1): Article number 1107. doi:10.1038/s41467-022-28333-5. PMID 35260548.
  2. Imbler, Sabrina (8 March 2022). "Fossil of Vampire Squid's Oldest Ancestor Is Named for Biden". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  3. Strickland, Ashley (8 March 2022). "Fossil of 328 million-year-old octopus relative still has suckers on its arms". CNN. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  4. "Joe Biden is a fossil: 328m-year-old vampire squid named after president". The Guardian. March 9, 2022.
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