Meet Cliff Linster, whose Jurassic “squid” sat 30 years before being named a new species

A remarkably broad belemnite fossil discovered in Wyoming has been identified as a new species. This ancient squid relative, named Wyoteuthis linsterorum, lived around 160 million years ago. The chunky fossil represents a rare surviving branch of an ancient lineage. Researchers used two specimens to formally describe the previously unknown animal. The discovery highlights the contributions of fossil collectors to scientific understanding.