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A mollusk radiate from the Paleozoic time, Ambonychia bellistriata.

Ambonychia Mollusk

A mollusk radiate from the Paleozoic time, Ambonychia bellistriata.

An illustration of an Ammon's Horn shell, a fossil shell, curved like a ram's horn. A name previously used to classify ammonites.

Ammon's Horn (Shell)

An illustration of an Ammon's Horn shell, a fossil shell, curved like a ram's horn. A name previously…

"They were of various forms, but they were of carnivorous habits, resembling the speias, and, like the nautili, living in chambered shells." — Goodrich, 1859

Ammonite

"They were of various forms, but they were of carnivorous habits, resembling the speias, and, like the…

"Ammonite is the name for a large genus of fossil chambered shells."—(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Ammonite

"Ammonite is the name for a large genus of fossil chambered shells."—(Charles Leonard-Stuart,…

"Ammonite is the name for a large genus of fossil chambered shells."—(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Ammonite

"Ammonite is the name for a large genus of fossil chambered shells."—(Charles Leonard-Stuart,…

a fossil cephalopod similar to the nautilisk.

Ammonite

a fossil cephalopod similar to the nautilisk.

a fossil cephalopod similar to the nautilisk.

Ammonite

a fossil cephalopod similar to the nautilisk.

a fossil cephalopod similar to the nautilisk.

Ammonite

a fossil cephalopod similar to the nautilisk.

"A genus of fossil terebranchiate cephalopods, of the family Ammonitidæ, or made the type of a special family Ancyloceratidæ."-Whitney, 1902

Ancyloceras

"A genus of fossil terebranchiate cephalopods, of the family Ammonitidæ, or made the type of a…

An illustration of the skeletal fossil of Archaeopteryx, the earliest and most primitive bird known. Archaeopteryx lived in the late Jurassic Period around 155–150 million years ago, in what is now southern Germany during a time when Europe was an archipelago of islands in a shallow warm tropical sea, much closer to the equator than it is now.

Archaeopteryx Fossil

An illustration of the skeletal fossil of Archaeopteryx, the earliest and most primitive bird known.…

An articulate radiate from the Paleozoic time, Homalonotus delphinocephalus.

Articulate Radiate

An articulate radiate from the Paleozoic time, Homalonotus delphinocephalus.

An articulate radiate from the Paleozoic time, Orthoceras junceum.

Orthoceras Articulate

An articulate radiate from the Paleozoic time, Orthoceras junceum.

An ancient articulate from the Paleozoic time, Pacops bufo from the Hamilton group.

Pacops Articulate

An ancient articulate from the Paleozoic time, Pacops bufo from the Hamilton group.

An illustration of a beetle fossil.

Beetle Fossil

An illustration of a beetle fossil.

A mollusk radiate from the Paleozoic time, Pentamerus oblongus, a brachiopod from the Clinton group.

Pentamerus Brachiopod

A mollusk radiate from the Paleozoic time, Pentamerus oblongus, a brachiopod from the Clinton group.

A footprint of brontozoum giganeum, a now extinct relative of the cassowary. This example is eighteen inches in length, the bird was believed to weigh between four and eight hundred pounds.

Footprint of brontozoum giganteum

A footprint of brontozoum giganeum, a now extinct relative of the cassowary. This example is eighteen…

"The trilobite's general form is shown in the annexed figure of the <em>Calymene Blumenbachii</em>; they possessed well-formed, compound, faceted eyes, which are frequently well-preserved in the fossil state. The body is usually divided into three regions, of which the first and last are commonly in the form of the semicircular plates, while the middle portion exhibits distinct segmentation, and by its flexibilty enabled the animal to double itself up in the manner of the common wood-louse." &mdash; Goodrich, 1859

Calymene

"The trilobite's general form is shown in the annexed figure of the Calymene Blumenbachii;…

The continents during this age consisted mainly of large, flat, marshy areas, covered with luxuriant vegetation.

Carboniferous Landscape

The continents during this age consisted mainly of large, flat, marshy areas, covered with luxuriant…

An illustration of a fossil containing Chirotherium tracks. Chirotherium (also known as Cheirotherium) or 'hand-beast', is the name of a creature which may be known only from fossil imprints of its tracks (trace fossils). These look, by coincidence, remarkably like the hand of an ape/human or bear, with the outermost toe having evolved to extend out to the side like a thumb, although probably only providing a firmer grip in mud. Its tracks were first found in 1834, in red sandstone in Thuringia, Germany, dating from 240 million years ago (mya). This creature was probably an archosaur, related to the ancestors of the dinosaurs.

Chirotherium Tracks

An illustration of a fossil containing Chirotherium tracks. Chirotherium (also known as Cheirotherium)…

The chain coral. This is an important index fossil of the Silurian, and an important limestone builder as well.

Chain Coral

The chain coral. This is an important index fossil of the Silurian, and an important limestone builder…

An illustration of a slipper coral fossil.

Slipper Coral

An illustration of a slipper coral fossil.

An illustration of a Diplodocus skeleton and the caudal vertebrae (A and B). Diplodocus is a genus of diplodocid sauropod dinosaur whose fossils were first discovered in 1877 by S. W. Williston. It lived in what is now western North America at the end of the Jurassic Period. Diplodocus is one of the more common dinosaur fossils found in the Upper Morrison Formation, a sequence of shallow marine and alluvial sediments deposited about 150 to 147 million years ago, in what is now termed the Kimmeridgian and Tithonian stages.

Diplodocus

An illustration of a Diplodocus skeleton and the caudal vertebrae (A and B). Diplodocus is a genus of…

Petrified corpse discovered at Pompeii.

Discovered Body at Pompeii

Petrified corpse discovered at Pompeii.

Illustrated is a fossil of a dragon fly, petalia longialata.

Dragon Fly Fossil

Illustrated is a fossil of a dragon fly, petalia longialata.

The fossilized skeleton of an elephant.

Fossil elephant

The fossilized skeleton of an elephant.

The fossilized skeleton of an elk.

Fossilized elk

The fossilized skeleton of an elk.

An illustration of a fish fossil.

Fish Fossil

An illustration of a fish fossil.

This illustration shows the ancient fossile of an amphibian. Fossils are the mineralized or otherwise preserved remains or traces of animals, plants, and other organisms.

Fossil

This illustration shows the ancient fossile of an amphibian. Fossils are the mineralized or otherwise…

(Archeopteryx macrocrura), an ancient bird fossil showing claws.

Fossil

(Archeopteryx macrocrura), an ancient bird fossil showing claws.

"Palaechinus sphaericus, Scouler; Carbouiferous, Ireland." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Fossil Echinidea

"Palaechinus sphaericus, Scouler; Carbouiferous, Ireland." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

"Archaeocidaris Urii, Flem (spine and intermediate plate); Carboniferous, Ireland." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Fossil Echinidea

"Archaeocidaris Urii, Flem (spine and intermediate plate); Carboniferous, Ireland." — Encyclopedia…

"Cidaris glandifera, Goldf (spine); Jura, Mount Carmel." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Fossil Echinidea

"Cidaris glandifera, Goldf (spine); Jura, Mount Carmel." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

"Hemicidaris intermedia, Flem.; Corallian, Calne." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Fossil Echinidea

"Hemicidaris intermedia, Flem.; Corallian, Calne." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

"Salenia petalifers, Desm., U Greensand, Wilts." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Fossil Echinidea

"Salenia petalifers, Desm., U Greensand, Wilts." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

"Dysaster ringens, Ag., Inferior Oolite, Dorset." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Fossil Echinidea

"Dysaster ringens, Ag., Inferior Oolite, Dorset." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

"Hemipneustes Greenovii, Forbes, U. Greensand, Blackdown" &mdash; Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Fossil Echinidea

"Hemipneustes Greenovii, Forbes, U. Greensand, Blackdown" — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

"Catopygus carinatus Goldf., U. Greensand, Wilts." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Fossil Echinidea

"Catopygus carinatus Goldf., U. Greensand, Wilts." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

"Cidaris florigemma, with spine, a, and single ambulacral plate, magnified, b, (after Wright; Coral Rag." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Fossil Echinidea

"Cidaris florigemma, with spine, a, and single ambulacral plate, magnified, b, (after Wright; Coral…

"Ananchytes ovatus, Lam.; U. Chalk, Europe." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Fossil Echinidea

"Ananchytes ovatus, Lam.; U. Chalk, Europe." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

"Pygaster semisulcatus, Ph.; Inf. Oolite, Cheltenham." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Fossil Echinidea

"Pygaster semisulcatus, Ph.; Inf. Oolite, Cheltenham." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

"Galerites albogalerus, Lam.; U. Chalk, Kent." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Fossil Echinidea

"Galerites albogalerus, Lam.; U. Chalk, Kent." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

"Scutella subrotunda; Miocene, Malta." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Fossil Echinidea

"Scutella subrotunda; Miocene, Malta." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

When the remains of an animal or plant are exposed to the air or buried in dry earth, they generally decompose and pass off almost entirely as gasses; but when buried under water or in damp earth, their preservation is probable. Therefore, the species most likely to become fossilized are those living in water or marshes, or in the neighborhood of water or marshes.

Fossil Encrinite

When the remains of an animal or plant are exposed to the air or buried in dry earth, they generally…

"Fossil Plant from Coal Measures of Pennsylvania."&mdash;(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Fossil Plant

"Fossil Plant from Coal Measures of Pennsylvania."—(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

A fossil of rain drops with ripple marks.

Fossils

A fossil of rain drops with ripple marks.

Ganoids were ancient fish from the Paleozoic time. The image is of the Cephalaspis Lyellii.

Ganoid

Ganoids were ancient fish from the Paleozoic time. The image is of the Cephalaspis Lyellii.

Ganoids were ancient fish from the Paleozoic time. The image is of the Holoptychius.

Ganoid

Ganoids were ancient fish from the Paleozoic time. The image is of the Holoptychius.

"Glyptodon (Glyptodon clavipes). The typical and best-known genus of the family Glyptodontidae; the long-tailed fossil armadillos or glyptodons, with 5 toes on the hind feet and 4 on the fore, the fifth digit of which is wanting." -Whitney, 1911

Glyptodon

"Glyptodon (Glyptodon clavipes). The typical and best-known genus of the family Glyptodontidae; the…

The extinct ammonoid mollusk, Goniatites sphericus.

Goniatites sphericus

The extinct ammonoid mollusk, Goniatites sphericus.

An illustration of a graptolite fossil.

Graptolites

An illustration of a graptolite fossil.

"Block of Stone containing Graptolites. GRAPTOLITE. A specimen or a species of Paleozoic coelenterate organisms, commonly supposed to be hydrozoans, resembling the living sertularians." -Whitney, 1911

Graptolites in Stone

"Block of Stone containing Graptolites. GRAPTOLITE. A specimen or a species of Paleozoic coelenterate…

"A fish known chiefly by scales, fossil remains of which are found in Old Red Sandstone." &mdash; Williams, 1889

Holoptychius

"A fish known chiefly by scales, fossil remains of which are found in Old Red Sandstone." — Williams,…

An illustration of an Ichthyosaurus skeleton. Ichthyosaurus is an extinct genus of ichthyosaur from the Early Jurassic (Hettangian - Sinemurian) of Europe (Belgium, England and Germany). It is among the best known ichthyosaur genera, with the Order Ichthyosauria being named after it. Ichthyosaurus was the first complete fossil to be discovered in the early 1800's by Mary Anning in England.

Archaeopteryx Skeleton

An illustration of an Ichthyosaurus skeleton. Ichthyosaurus is an extinct genus of ichthyosaur from…

A Jason mollusk from the Reptilian age of the Mesozoic time.

Jason Mollusk

A Jason mollusk from the Reptilian age of the Mesozoic time.

An illustration of leaf indentations left on club moss.

Leaf Indentations

An illustration of leaf indentations left on club moss.

An illustration of a fossil of a toothed fern. Ferns are vascular plants differing from the more primitive lycophytes by having true leaves (megaphylls), and they differ from seed plants (gymnosperms and angiosperms) in their mode of reproduction &mdash; lacking flowers and seeds. Like all other vascular plants, they have a life cycle referred to as alternation of generations, characterized by a diploid sporophytic and a haploid gametophytic phase.

Leaf Indentations

An illustration of a fossil of a toothed fern. Ferns are vascular plants differing from the more primitive…

A mollusk radiate from the Paleozoic time, Leptaena sericea.

Leptaena Mollusk

A mollusk radiate from the Paleozoic time, Leptaena sericea.

A piece of limestone.

Limestone

A piece of limestone.

The Lingula antigua is a little bivalve shell belonging at the bottom of the class Brachiopoda. The inarticulate brachiopod genus Lingula is the oldest, relatively unchanged animal known. The oldest lingulid fossils are found in Lower Cambrian rocks dating to roughly 550 million years ago. The origin of brachiopods is unknown. A possible ancestor is a sort of ancient "armored slug" known as Halkieria that had small brachiopod-like shields on its head and tail.

Lingula Antigua

The Lingula antigua is a little bivalve shell belonging at the bottom of the class Brachiopoda. The…

The Lingula prima is a little bivalve shell belonging at the bottom of the class Brachiopoda. The inarticulate brachiopod genus Lingula is the oldest, relatively unchanged animal known. The oldest lingulid fossils are found in Lower Cambrian rocks dating to roughly 550 million years ago. The origin of brachiopods is unknown. A possible ancestor is a sort of ancient "armored slug" known as Halkieria that had small brachiopod-like shields on its head and tail.

Lingula Prima

The Lingula prima is a little bivalve shell belonging at the bottom of the class Brachiopoda. The inarticulate…