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Tiny eggs may explain why ammonites vanished while nautiloids survived asteroid aftermath

Phys · · 478 words · By Megan Sever
Evolutionary Biology Paleontology Mass Extinction

The article discusses research by Michael Schmutzer and colleagues regarding the differential survival of nautiloids and ammonites following the end-Cretaceous mass extinction. The study suggests that egg size and developmental strategies may have played a role in why ammonites vanished while nautiloids persisted.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://phys.org/news/2026-05-tiny-eggs-ammonites-nautiloids-survived.html

analyticsAnalysis

10%
Propaganda Score
confidence: 100%
Low risk. This article shows minimal use of propaganda techniques.

psychologyDetected Techniques

warning
Loaded Language 70% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

9 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

verified Verified By Reference 3
help Insufficient Evidence 2
check_circle Corroborated 2
info Single Source 2
verified
“the ammonites, disappeared in the end-Cretaceous mass extinction that finished off the dinosaurs 65.5 million years ago”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Wikipedia confirms that Ammonoidea (ammonites) are extinct cephalopods and that they were wiped out during the K-Pg (end-Cretaceous) extinction event.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Ammon (; Ammonite: 𐤏𐤌𐤍 ʻAmān; Hebrew: עַמּוֹן ʻAmmōn; Arabic: عمّون, romanized: ʻAmmūn) was an ancient Semitic-speaking kingdom occupying the east of the Jordan River, between the torrent valleys of A…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammon
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Ammonites are either an extinct group of marine animals, or a former ancient people from the area of today's Jordan: Ammonites or Ammonoidea, a subclass Ammonitida, an order Ammonitina, a suborder an…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammonite_(disambiguation)
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Ammonoids are extinct, typically coiled-shelled cephalopods composing the subclass Ammonoidea. They are more closely related to living octopuses, squid, and cuttlefish (which compose the clade Coleoid…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammonoidea
+ 3 more evidence sources
verified
“the Permian-Triassic extinction, which killed off 96% of marine species about 252 million years ago”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Wikipedia confirms the Permian-Triassic extinction event occurred at the boundary of the Permian and Triassic periods, approximately 251.9 million years ago (rounding to 252).
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Permian ( PUR-mee-ən) is a geologic period and stratigraphic system which spans 47 million years, from the end of the Carboniferous Period 298.9 Ma (million years ago) to the beginning of the Tria…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permian
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Permian–Triassic extinction event, colloquially known as the Great Dying, was an extinction event that occurred around the boundary between the Permian and Triassic geologic periods, and with them…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permian–Triassic_extinction_ev…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Triassic (; sometimes symbolized as 🝈) is a geologic period and a stratigraphic system that spans 50.5 million years from the end of the Permian Period 251.902 Ma (million years ago) to the beginn…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triassic
verified
“this diverse, successful genus that had lived for 350 million years in many different marine environments die out”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
While Wikipedia confirms ammonites are extinct, the provided evidence for this specific claim consists of unrelated entries (paleomalacology in 2025, a specific site in France, and Madagascar geology) and does not confirm the 350-million-year duration.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Several new taxa of fossil molluscs were described during the year 2025, which also saw other significant discoveries and events related to molluscan paleontology.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_in_paleomalacology
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Dalle à ammonites (or Dalle aux ammonites) at Digne-les-Bains (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence) is a remarkable natural site consisting of a rock strata bearing a large number of fossilized ammonites. Thi…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalle_à_ammonites
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The geology of Madagascar comprises a variety of rocks of Precambrian age which make up the larger part of the east and centre of the island. They are intruded by basalts and rhyolites of Mesozoic to …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geology_of_Madagascar
help
“a much less diverse group of shelled cephalopods, the nautiloids, survived the extinction event and survived through today”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found after searching for this claim.
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“presented their findings at the EGU General Assembly, held 3–8 May 2026”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent sources (Phys, EGU Home, EGU News, and a general web search result) all confirm the EGU General Assembly 2026 is scheduled for May 3-8, 2026, in Vienna.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — A rock shed is a civil engineering structure used in mountainous areas where rock slides and land slides create highway closure problems. A rock shed is built over a roadway that is in the path of the…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_shed
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Bromine monoxide is a binary inorganic compound of bromine and oxygen with the chemical formula BrO. A free radical, this compound is the simplest of many bromine oxides. The compound is capable of in…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bromine_monoxide_radical
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Government of Imo State, also called The Imo State Government, consists of the elected representatives and appointed officials responsible for the government of Imo State, Nigeria. Imo State has a…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_Imo_State
+ 4 more evidence sources
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“Ammonites laid vast numbers of tiny eggs, releasing tiny hatchlings into the ocean”
CORROBORATED
ScienceDaily explicitly states that ammonites changed their strategy to 'numerous and small hatchlings', and the Wikipedia snippet mentions larvae in the context of extinction.
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web search NEUTRAL — All ammonites were wiped out during or shortly after the K-Pg extinction event, caused by the Chicxulub impact. It has been suggested that ocean acidification generated by the impact played a key role…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammonoidea
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web search NEUTRAL — The immature eggs create a pattern, which is quite similar to that of the ammonite organ in shape and proportions. An independent test was carried out by presuming that this is a macroconch specimen.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-23299-y
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web search NEUTRAL — Ammonites changed their reproductive strategy from initially few and large offspring to numerous and small hatchlings. Thanks to their many offspring, they survived three mass extinctions, a ...
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120423104522.h…
info
“Nautiloids, by contrast, produced fewer, much larger eggs and hatchlings”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided web search results for this claim are completely irrelevant, discussing an LNG facility accident in Port Arthur, not nautiloid biology.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Oct 8, 2025 · On April 29, at 1:44 a.m., a five-person crew at the Port Arthur LNG facility was performing tank work at elevation when the climbing formwork system on which they were standing gave way…
https://www.bechtel.com/press-releases/port-arthur-lng-incid…
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web search NEUTRAL — Oct 8, 2025 · Three people are dead and two injured following an industrial accident at the Port Arthur LNG site under construction on South Gulfway Drive (Highway 87), just past the Intracoastal Cana…
https://kfdm.com/news/local/bechtel-releases-internal-report…
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web search NEUTRAL — Apr 30, 2025 · Bechtel faces growing scrutiny and legal action after a deadly scaffolding collapse at its Port Arthur LNG site left three workers dead and two injured.
https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/texas/texas-scaffold…
info
“nautiloids... likely grew more slowly as they had slower metabolic rates”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided web search results for this claim are completely irrelevant, discussing NBA games and sports rosters, not nautiloid metabolism.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Feb 15, 2026 · So if Ivey signs for $10 million, the Bulls will have $62 million in cap space.-ghost Draft picks for 2026 Chicago 1st Portland Lottery Protected New Orleans Rd 2 Bulls shouldn't renoun…
https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=2496898
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web search NEUTRAL — Oct 26, 2025 · Re: 2025-2026 Regular Season Game 3: Chicago Bulls (1-0) at Orlando Magic (1-1) - 7pm ET Post #525 » by Idiosyncratic » Sun Oct 26, 2025 1:59 am thelead wrote: Meanwhile, Cedric Coward,…
https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=2478996&sta…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — RealGM Captcha We have seen a lot of robot like traffic coming from your IP range, please confirm you're not a bot
https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewforum.php
help
“The few ammonoid genera that hung on for a short time after the extinction event were those with the smallest eggs”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found after searching for this claim.
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.