Belemnite May 2026

: Because they were often found after heavy rains (which washed away topsoil), ancient Greeks and medieval Europeans believed they were darts from heaven thrown down during thunderstorms.

Long before scientists identified them as fossils, people across Europe and Asia found these pointy stones and created elaborate legends to explain them: belemnite

Belemnites were squid-like marine mollusks belonging to the class, making them cousins to modern squids, octopuses, and the extinct ammonites . : Because they were often found after heavy

: While they originated in the Triassic period (about 237 million years ago), they became ocean superstars during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. : They were fast, streamlined hunters equipped with

: They were fast, streamlined hunters equipped with ten hooked arms for grasping prey like crustaceans, large eyes for spotting predators, and ink sacs to create smoky diversions. 2. Myths of "Thunderbolts" and "Devil's Fingers"