EES 229

Invertebrate Paleontology

Spring 2004

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Lab 1: Fossilization and General Overview of Fossils

Use Textbook Chapter 1, Phylum figure

Goals of this lab: Start getting familiar with fossils of different Phyla (if animals); what characteristics can be seen. To which Phylum/Other group does the fossil belong? What is its way of preservation?

Fossilization questions:

1. What is preserved?

2. How is it preserved (more than one may apply)?


Number

Description; Age (collection number)

What Phylum/group?

Preservation?

229-1-1

Cycad tree; Late Cretaceous

Plants

HP; P; REP; D

229-1-2

Mussel bed; last ice age

Mollusca

HP, W, O

229-1-3

Wood (Petrified Forest, AZ); Jurassic

Plants

HP, P; PER, REP

229-1-4

Ammonites (coiled, straight); Late Cretaceous

Mollusca (Cephalopods)

HP, W (P); O, some DIS

229-1-5

Crinoid stems, Devonian (#3489) Mollusca Cephalopods)

?

MOLDS

229-1-6

Fern leaves; Carboniferous

Plants

SP, P; C; D

229-1-7

Fish; Jurassic (Solnhofen #542)

Chordates; (Vertebrates)

HP, SP, W; C (skin), O (bones)

229-1-8

Coral; Recent (few 100s of years)

Cnidaria

HP, W; O

229-1-9

Trace fossils; Ordovician

?

ichno

229-1-10

Ammonites, Jurassic

Mollusca (Cephalopods)

HP,P; REC

229-1-11

Leaf; Late Carboniferous

Plants

SP, P; C

229-1-12

Brachiopods and Bryozoans; Ordovician shell bed

Brachiopoda and Bryozoa (group Lophophorates)

HP, W

Dissolution (molds)

229-1-13

Sea urchin; Cretaceous

Echninodermata

HP, W; Maybe O, maybe REC

229-1-14

Beetle; Ice age (La Brea tar pits)

Arthropoda (Insects)

SP, W; O (impregnated)

229-1-15

Sponge; Recent (~60 years)

Porifera

HP, W; O

229-1-16

Mammoth; Ice age

Chordates (mammals)

HP, P; O

229-1-17

Snails and clams; Cretaceous

Mollusca (gastropods, bivalves)

Molds

229-1-18

Graptolites; Ordovician

Chordates (hemichordates)

HP, W; C

229-1-19

Ammonites; Jurassic

Mollusca (Cephalopods)

HP, W; REC

229-1-20

Snails; Eocene

Mollusca (gastropods)

HP, W; PER, REP

229-1-21

Snails and Clams; Eocene

Mollusca (gastropods, bivalves)

Inner molds

229-1-22

Trace fossil (Zoophycus); Carboniferous

?

Ichno

229-1-23

Mammoth with barnacles; Ice age

Chordates (mammals); Arthropods

HP, P, O ; HP, W, O

229-1-24

Hyolith; Cambrian (Burgess Shale # B453)

??Maybe Mollusca?

P, W; C

229-1-25

Brachiopod; Ordovician

Brachiopoda

HP, W; Mold (Dissolution), REC

229-1-26

Crinoidal limestone; Carboniferous

Echinodermata; (Crinoidea)

HP, P; O or REC

229-1-27

Bryozoan; Carboniferous

Bryozoa

HP, P; O or REC

229-1-28

Leaf and insect; Oligocene (Florissant # 517, 439)

Plants, Arthropoda (insects)

HP, P and W; C

229-1-29

Belemnite; Cretaceous

Mollusca (Cepalopods)

HP, P; O

229-1-30

Crinoid (Jurassic, Solnhofen)

Echinodermata (Crinoidea)

HP+SP; W; REC, C

229-1-31

Trilobite; Cambrian

Arthropoda (Trilobita)

HP, P (molded exoskeleton),C

229-1-32

Crinoid, Carboniferous

Echinodermata (Crinoidea)

HP, W; O or REC

229-1-33

Brachiopods; Jurassic

Brachiopoda

HP, W; O or REC or REP

229-1-34

Trace fossils; Ordovician

??

Ichno

229-1-35

Ammonite, Jurassic

Mollusca (Cephalopods)

HP, W; REC

229-1-36

Clams; Eocene

Mollusca (bivalves)

Molds (small pieces of shell: REC)

229-1-37

Tooth; Oligocene

Chordates (mammal)

HP; P; O

229-1-38

Vertebrae; Eocene

Chordates (fish)

HP, P; O

229-1-39

Snail; Pliocene

Mollusca (gastropod)

HP, W; REC

229-1-40

Eurypterid, Silurian

Arthropoda

HP, P; C