Megateuthis gigantea
| Megateuthis gigantea Temporal range: Jurassic | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Fossilised guards of M. gigantea (top and centre) and M. aalensis (bottom) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Cephalopoda |
| (unranked): | Belemnoidea |
| Genus: | Megateuthis |
| Species: | M. gigantea |
| Binomial name | |
| Megateuthis gigantea (von Schlotheim, 1820) | |
Megateuthis gigantea is the largest known belemnite species. The guard of M. gigantea, which has been found in Europe and Asia, can measure up to 46 centimetres in length (18 inches), giving the living animal an estimated length of 3 metres (10 feet).