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Proteroctopus
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An artist's illustration of Proteroctopus ribeti
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Cephalopoda
Subclass: Coleoidea
Superorder: Octopodiformes
Order: Octopoda
Family: incertae sedis
Genus: Proteroctopus
Fischer & Riou, 1982
Species: P. ribeti
Binomial name
Proteroctopus ribeti
Fischer & Riou, 1982

Proteroctopus was a primitive octopus that lived in the Middle Jurassic period in Europe, approximately 164 million years ago. The single fossil specimen assigned to this species originates from the Lower Callovian of Voulte-sur-Rhône in France. This specimen is currently on display at the Musée de Paléontologie de La Voulte-sur-Rhône.

The morphology of Proteroctopus ribeti suggests a necto-epipelagic mode of life, reminiscent of many octopi species of today.

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