Promissum

Life restoration of Promissum pulchrum

Promissum is an extinct genus of conodont from the Upper Ordovician period. It is macrophagous, meaning it is probably a nektonic carnivore. It is one of the very few specimens preserving a body outline.

Well-preserved specimens were discovered in the Soom shale of South Africa in 1994. A preserved specimen of this behemoth reveals details of the trunk musculature, feeding apparatus and eyes.

Description

Promissum was a rather large conodont, up to 40 cm (16 inch). It had a primitive mouth under its eyes with mineralized teeth. It looked like a small eel or large worm, lacking any kind of fins except for perhaps a small one on the tail. It was probably capable of maintaining a cruising speed. However, it could not maintain rapid bursts of speed.

A comparison of Promissum with other conodonts

References

1. Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 23. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.