Dawsonoceratidae is an extinct family of orthoconic nautiloid cephalopods that lived in what would be North America and Europe from the Late Ordovician through the Middle Devonian from about 480–390 mya, existing for approximately 90 million years.

[2] Dawsonoceratidae are michelinocerids (Orthocerida) with the internal pattern of the Michelinoceratidae[2] except that the siphuncle segments, which are generally tubular, are constricted at the septal foremina (the openings through with the siphuncular tissues pass).

The type genus, Dawsonoceras and its close relative Dawsonocerina are further characterized by having orthoconic shells with conspicuous annulations, covered by transverse, scalloped or festooned lirae which in some are also longitudinal.

[3] Annulations consist of narrow encircling ribs that may be somewhat oblique, separated by generally wider areas in between The Dawsonoceratidae comprise six known genera, Dawsonoceras, the type, Anaspyroceras, Calocyrtocerina, Dawsonocerina, Metaspyroceras, and Palaeodawsonocerina.

Anaspyroceras and Metaspyroceras differ from Flowers definition of the Dawsonoceratidae [2] in that the septal necks are orthochoanitic rather than recumbent and siphuncle segments are without noted constrictions.