Taxonomy

Taxonomy is an important discipline that sets the foundation for a significant part of biological research, yet it is often undervalued and the number of taxonomists is decreasing. This is not only true for extant biology, but also for palaeontology. Taxonomic names are usually not listed in CV’s, although the author’s names are an integral part of them. So I think this website is a good place to list all the taxa where I have been involved in naming and describing them.

I list all taxa where I contributed in their first description in chronological order (even if my own part was only small in some cases). All taxa are provided with a very brief characterisation, including its age, provenance and link to the corresponding publication.

Note that taxonomy is an organic discipline, meaning that names may change or become invalidated by future work, though I will try to update this list as best as possible.

Images are taken from the publication containing the original description of the taxon, unless noted otherwise.

Family level and above

1. Pseudoalveolata Stevens, Pohle, Hoffmann & Immenhauser, 2023 (unranked)
   A clade of Cretaceous belemnites (Coleoidea, Cephalopoda) that is characterised by the presence of a primarily porous and organic-rich structure in the anterior part of the rostrum (pseudoalveolus). Comprises the Belemnitellidae, Dimitobelidae and a few others. Link

Genera

1. Mesonaedyceras Pohle & Klug, 2018
   A Middle Devonian member of the Naedyceratidae (Oncoceratida, Multiceratoidea, Cephalopoda) that shows asymmetric septa. Link

2. Subtheoceras Pohle & Klug, 2018
   A small Early Devonian representative of the Orthoceratidae (Orthoceratida, Orthoceratoidea, Cephalopoda) that shows minute incisions or striae on its conch surface. Link

3. Basiloceras Pohle, Klug & Haas, 2019
   A Middle Devonian acleistoceratid (Oncoceratida, Multiceratoidea, Cephalopoda) that comprises two species with a large size range (see below). Link
   
   Source: Pohle et al. 2019, Swiss Journal of Palaeontology.

4. Ethanoceras Kröger & Pohle, 2021
   An Early Ordovician taxon of the Rioceratidae (Rioceratida, Orthoceratoidea, Cephalopoda) that differs from most other early orthoceratoids by having a non-marginal siphuncle. Link
   
   Source: Kröger & Pohle 2021, European Journal of Taxonomy.

5. Hinlopoceras Kröger & Pohle, 2021
   Another Early Ordovician rioceratid (Rioceratida, Orthoceratoidea, Cephalopoda), with a relatively high expansion rate and distinct transverse bands or striae. Link
   
   Source: Kröger & Pohle 2021, European Journal of Taxonomy.

6. Nyfrieslandoceras Kröger & Pohle, 2021
   A taxon intermediate between bassleroceratids and oncoceratids, belonging to the family Phthanoncoceratidae (Oncoceratida, Multiceratoidea, Cephalopoda) from the Early Ordovician. Link
   
   Source: Kröger & Pohle 2021, European Journal of Taxonomy.

7. Olenidslettoceras Kröger & Pohle, 2021
   As above, this is an Early Ordovician phthanoncoceratid (Oncoceratida, Multiceratoidea, Cephalopoda), with characteristic septal necks. Link
   
   Source: Kröger & Pohle 2021, European Journal of Taxonomy.

8. Svalbardoceras Kröger & Pohle, 2021
   A slightly curved annulated rioceratid (Rioceratida, Multiceratoidea, Cephalopoda) with widely spaced septa from the Early Ordovician. Link
   
   Source: Kröger & Pohle 2021, European Journal of Taxonomy.

9. Maghriboselache Klug, Coates, Frey, Greif, Jobbins, Pohle, Lagnaoui, Bel Haouz & Ginter, 2023
   A vertebrate for a change, a cladoselachian (Symmoriiformes, Holocephali, Chondrichthyes) from the Late Devonian. Link
   
   Source: Klug et al. 2023, Swiss Journal of Palaeontology

10. Ticinoteuthis Pohle & Klug, 2024
    A stem coleoid resembling the enigmatic Mojsisovicsteuthis, with an elliptical, slowly expanding phragmocone. Link
    
    Source: Pohle & Klug 2024, Swiss Journal of Palaeontology.

Species

1. Aphyctoceras friesenbichlerae Pohle & Klug, 2018
   A rutoceratid (Oncoceratida, Multiceratoidea, Cephalopoda) with distinctive ornamentation from the Eifelian (Middle Devonian) of Morocco, named after the most important person in my life. Link

2. Astoceras floweri Pohle & Klug, 2018
   Probably a representative of the little known Sichuanoceratidae (Orthoceratida, Orthoceratoidea, Cephalopoda) from the Emsian (Early Devonian) of Morocco, named in honour of probably the most prolific researchers of nautiloid Palaeontology Link

3. Geidoloceras hebeiseni Pohle & Klug, 2018
   One of the many straight-shelled cephalopods from the Pragian (Early Devonian) of Morocco. This one belongs to the Pseudorthoceratidae (Pseudorthoceratida, Orthoceratoidea, Cephalopoda) and is named after a preparator at the Palaeontological Institute in Zurich. Link

4. Infundibuloceras kroegeri Pohle & Klug, 2018
   Another orthoceratid (Orthoceratida, Orthoceratoidea, Cephalopoda), from the Emsian (Middle Devonian) of Morocco, with very long chambers and long funnel-shaped septal necks. Named after my colleague, co-supervisor of my PhD thesis and one of the best experts on early Palaeozoic cephalopods Link

5. Mesonaedyceras obliquum Pohle & Klug, 2018
   Type species of a new genus (see above). A naedyceratid (Oncoceratida, Multiceratoidea, Cephalopoda) from the Eifelian (Middle Devonian) of Morocco. Note that this species is incorrectly spelled as “M. laterobliquum in the abstract of the paper, an overlooked remnant of an earlier version of the manuscript. Link

6. Pachtoceras laghdadense Pohle & Klug, 2018
   A potential member of the Poterioceratidae (Oncoceratida, Multiceratoidea, Cephalopoda; the family-level classification of Devonian oncoceratids is a bit chaotic) from the Givetian (Middle Devonian) of Morocco. It is probably the same species that is commonly found in pairs, indicating their semelparous lifecycle (i.e., death shortly after reproduction) Link Source: Pohle et al. 2020, Scientific Reports.

7. Pseudendoplectoceras angustum Pohle & Klug, 2018
   A small species from the Pragian (Early Devonian) of Morocco, currently classified within the Phragmoceratidae (Discosorida, Multiceratoidea, Cephalopoda). Link

8. Subormoceras asymmetricum Pohle & Klug, 2018
   A slender pseudorthoceratid (Pseudorthoceratida, Orthoceratoidea, Cephalopoda) with peculiarly shaped septal necks, from the Pragian (Early Devonian) of Morocco. Link

9. Subtheoceras striatum Pohle & Klug, 2018
   Type species of a new genus (see above). Another orthoceratid (Orthoceratida, Orthoceratoidea, Cephalopoda) from the Pragian (Early Devonian) of Morocco. Link

10. Basiloceras david Pohle, Klug & Haas, 2019
    One of two species of a new genus (see above) belonging to the Acleistoceratidae (Oncoceratida, Multiceratoidea, Cephalopoda), from the Eifelian (Middle Devonian) of Morocco. This species is much smaller than the type species, which is why we named it David. Link

11. Basiloceras goliath Pohle, Klug & Haas, 2019
    This is the type species of the same genus as the above species and one of the largest oncoceratids ever recorded, which is why we decided to name it Goliath. It is an acleistoceratid (Oncoceratida, Multiceratoidea, Cephalopoda), probably from the Eifelian (Middle Devonian; note that we stated Givetian as its age in the original publication, but we now have reason to believe that it is actually slightly older, as additional specimens have been found). Link

12. Rhynchorthoceras yizanense Fang in Fang, Pohle, Kröger, Aubrechtová, Burrett, Zhang & Zhang, 2021
    This species belongs to the Sinoceratidae (Lituitida, Orthoceratoidea, Cephalopoda) and some specimens have beautifully preserved conch ornamentation consisting of distinct sinuous growth lines. It comes from the Sandbian (Late Ordovician) of South China. Link

13. Sinoceras complexum Fang in Fang, Pohle, Kröger, Aubrechtová, Burrett, Zhang & Zhang, 2021
    A straight-shelled member of the Sinoceratidae (Lituitida, Orthoceratoidea, Cephalopoda) with comparatively long septal necks, from the Katian (Late Ordovician) of South China. Link

14. Tyrioceras longicameratum Fang in Fang, Pohle, Kröger, Aubrechtová, Burrett, Zhang & Zhang, 2021
    The first record of this sinoceratid (Lituitida, Orthoceratoidea, Cephalopoda) genus from Asia, from the Katian of South China Link

15. Bactroceras fluvii Kröger & Pohle, 2021
    A bactroceratid (Rioceratida, Orthoceratoidea, Cephalopoda) with relatively wide siphuncle from the Dapingian (Middle Ordovician) of Spitsbergen. Link

16. Buttsoceras buldrebreenense Kröger & Pohle, 2021
    This species is unique within this genus of the Troedsonellidae (Dissidoceratida, Orthoceratoidea, Cephalopoda) in that it has an elliptically compressed cross section. Link

17. Cycloplectoceras hinlopense Kröger & Pohle, 2021
    A strongly ribbed member of the Tarphyceratidae (Tarphyceratida, Multiceratoidea, Cephalopoda), from the Floian (Early Ordovician) of Spitsbergen. Link

18. Cyclostomiceras profilstrandense Kröger & Pohle, 2021
    A weakly ornamented member of this genus belonging to the Cyclostomiceratidae (Ellesmeroceratida?, Multiceratoidea, Cephalopoda) from the Floian (Early Ordovician) of Spitsbergen. Link

19. Deltoceras beluga Kröger & Pohle, 2021
    A tarphyceratid or estonioceratid (Tarphyceratida, Multiceratoidea, Cephalopoda) with a relatively high whorl cross section from the Floian (Early Ordovician) of Spitsbergen. Link

20. Eosomichelinoceras borealis Kröger & Pohle, 2021
    A member of the Baltoceratidae (Orthoceratida, Orthoceratoidea, Cephalopoda) with eccentric siphuncle and curved early ontogenetic stage, from the Floian (Early Ordovician) of Spitsbergen. Link

21. Ethanoceras solitudines Kröger & Pohle, 2021
    Type species of a new genus (see above). A rioceratid (Rioceratida, Orthoceratoidea, Cephalopoda) from the Floian (Early Ordovician) of Spitsbergen. Link

22. Hemichoanella occulta Kröger & Pohle, 2021
    This species was difficult to place, as it also shows similarities with some species of Catoraphiceras, Notocycloceras, and Anthoceras. We placed it in the Cyptendoceratidae (Dissidoceratida, Orthoceratoidea, Cephalopoda), and it occurs in the Floian (Early Ordovician) of Spitsbergen. Link

23. Hinlopoceras tempestatis Kröger & Pohle, 2021
    Type species of a new genus (see above). A rioceratid (Rioceratida, Orthoceratoidea, Cephalopoda) from the Floian (Early Ordovician) of Spitsbergen. Link

24. Hinlopoceras venti Kröger & Pohle, 2021
    Another species of the same genus as the preceding (Rioceratida, Orthoceratoidea, Cephalopoda) from the Floian (Early Ordovician) of Spitsbergen, mainly differing in its conch ornamentation. Link

25. Lawrenceoceras ebenus Kröger & Pohle, 2021
    A cyrtocone with elliptically depressed cross section, differing from its congeners in its conch ornamentation. This one is a representative of the Bassleroceratidae (Ellesmeroceratida?, Multiceratoidea, Cephalopoda) from the Floian (Early Ordovician) of Spitsbergen. Link

26. Lawrenceoceras larus Kröger & Pohle, 2021
    A member of the same genus as above (Ellesmeroceratida?, Multiceratoidea, Cephalopoda), but more slender than other species. Also from the Floian (Middle Ordovician) of Spitsbergen. Link

27. Litoceras profilbekkenense Kröger & Pohle, 2021
    This one is a member of the Trocholitidae, (Tarphyceratida, Multiceratoidea, Cephalopoda) and may represent a morphological and stratigraphic link between Trocholitoceras and Litoceras, both being coiled cephalopods with relatively wide whorls and central to dorsal siphuncles. This species is from the Floian (Early Ordovician) of Spitsbergen. Link

28. Nyfrieslandoceras bassleroceroides Kröger & Pohle, 2021
    Type species of a new genus (see above). A phthanoncoceratid (Oncoceratida, Multiceratoidea, Cephalopoda) from the Floian (Early Ordovician) of Spitsbergen. Link

29. Olenidslettoceras farmi Kröger & Pohle, 2021
    Type species of a new genus (see above). A phthanoncoceratid (Oncoceratida, Multiceratoidea, Cephalopoda) from the Floian (Early Ordovician) of Spitsbergen. Link

30. Protocycloceras minor Kröger & Pohle, 2021
    A small member of this distinctly annulated genus that was long seen as the type genus of its own family Protocycloceratidae, but we reassigned it to the Troedsonellidae (Dissidoceratida, Orthoceratoidea, Cephalopoda) instead, based on the presence of diaphragms and calcaereous linings within the siphuncle. It is from the Floian (Early Ordovician) of Spitsbergen. Link

31. Proterocameroceras valhallfonnense Kröger & Pohle, 2021
    From this species, no endocones were preserved, and therefore, its placement within this genus and even order and subclass (Proterocameroceratidae, Endoceratoidea, Cephalopoda) are somewhat uncertain. However, it agrees with other members of this group in being an orthocone with a very large siphuncle and short septal necks. It is from the Floian (Early Ordovician) of Spitsbergen. Link

32. Svalbardoceras sterna Kröger & Pohle, 2021
    Type species of a new genus (see above). A rioceratid (Rioceratida, Orthoceratoidea, Cephalopoda) from the Floian (Early Ordovician) of Spitsbergen. Link

33. Svalbardoceras skua Kröger & Pohle, 2021
    Another species of the same genus as the previous one (Rioceratida, Orthoceratoidea, Cephalopoda) from the Floian (Early Ordovician) of Spitsbergen, differing in having a circular rather than a elliptically compressed cross section. Link

34. Maghriboselache mohamezanei Klug, Coates, Frey, Greif, Jobbins, Pohle, Lagnaoui, Bel Haouz & Ginter, 2023
    Type species of a new genus (see above). A cladoselachian (Symmoriiformes, Holocephali, Chondrichthyes) from the Famennian (Late Devonian) of Morocco. Link

35. Ellesmeroceras humahuacaensis Cichowolski, Vaccari, Pohle, Morón-Alfonso, Vaucher & Waisfeld, 2023
    A tiny ellesmeroceratid (Ellesmeroceratida, stem Cephalopoda), the oldest known cephalopod from South America, from the early Tremadocian (Early Ordovician) of Argentina. Link

36. Sinoeremoceras marywadeae Pohle, Jell & Klug, 2024
    A plectronoceratid (Plectronoceratida, stem Cephalopoda), known from abundant well-preserved material, revealing the complex 3D-structure of the siphuncle, which provided the basis for a major revision of the Plectronoceratida. From the (unnamed) Stage 10 (Furongian, late Cambrian) of Queensland, Australia. Link
    
    Source: Pohle et al. 2024, PeerJ.

37. Ticinoteuthis chuchichaeschtli Pohle & Klug, 2024
    Type species of a new genus (see above). Named after a famous Swiss shibboleth (“Chuchichäschtli”), meaning small kitchen cupboard, because it was stored in a drawer in Zurich for many years. From the Anisian (Middle Triassic) of Ticino, Switzerland. Link