Cibolaites

Cibolaites Temporal range: mid-Cretaceous (Turonian)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Cephalopoda
Subclass:	Ammonoidea
Order:	Ammonitida
Family:	Collignoniceratidae
Subfamily:	Barroisiceratinae
Genus:	Cibolaites Cobban and Hook, 1983

Cibolaites is a strongly ribbed and nodose ammonoid cephalopod from the middle Cretaceous of western New Mexico, included in the taxonomic family Collignoniceratidae

Description

Cibolaites is a moderate-sized, somewhat involute genus, with a moderate umbilicus, that bears broad rounded ribs on the flanks which bifurate from the umbilical shoulder in larger specimens. Whole section is broadest though the umbilical shoulders, flanks converge moderately on a broadly rounded venter. which bears three rows of distinct, commonly elongate, nodes. (Plate 2, figs 1-9, Cobban and Hook, 1983). The suture is ammonitic but relatively simple with generally rounded, cauliform, elements. (Fig 14, p. 17, Cobban and Hook, 1983)

Taxomomy

Cibolites is placed in the subfamily Barroisiceratinae, family Collignoniceratidae, order Ammonitida, subclass Ammonoidea. The type is Cibolaites molenaari, named by Cobban and Hook, 1983. The genus name is in reference to Cibola County, New Mexico. The species is named for C.M Molinaar who investigated mid-Cretaceous stratigraphy in northwest New Mexico and discovered the Fence Lake Fauna. No other species have been identified.

Association

Cibolaites molenaari is associated with Neoptychites and Fagesia. It is similar to the Coniacian Barroisiceras which differ in having smaller umbilici and crenulate keels.

Locality and Dispensation

Cibolaites was discovered in lower Turonian area sediments in the Fence Lake area south of Gallop in western New Mexico. The holotype and paratypes are stored at the U.S. Nation Museum. Additional specimens identified as such are in the collections of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science in Albuquerque, NM

References

• W. A. Cobban and Hook, S. C. 1983 Mid-Cretaceous (Turonian) ammonite fauna from Fence Lake area of west-central New Mexico. Memoir 41, New Mexico Bureau of Mines&Mineral Resources, Socorro NM.