Liroceratina Flower, 1955

Suborder Liroceratina Flower, 1955

Diagnosis

Suborder of the order Nautilida , in which an umbilical margin is formed early in ontogeny; advanced species may regress this character. Conch usually pachyconic and rarely discoidal or globular, subinvolute to involute. Juvenile whorl profile circular. Adult whorl profile usually circular or depressed oval without distinct ventrolateral shoulder in the phylogenetically early species, showing modifications during evolution (inverted trapezoidal with convergent flanks and flattened venter). Dorsal whorl zone always present, small to moderately deep. Juvenile sculpture with spiral lines that may be restricted to the umbilical area in the phylogenetically early species; adult sculpture usually lacking except for spiral lines in some species. Septa simply domed in the early species; with dorsal inflexion in advanced species and with corrugated septa in two derived clades. Suture line depending on the whorl profile, usually with shallow lobes and low saddles; with distinct lobes in two clades (from Korn 2025).

Included superfamilies

Liroceratoidea Hyatt, 1900 (Carboniferous to Triassic); Ephippioceratoidea Miller & Youngquist, 1949 (Carboniferous to Permian); Clydonautiloidea Hyatt, 1900 (Triassic to Jurassic).

Remarks

A discussion of the suborder Liroceratina has been given by Korn (2025).