Types of fossils Flashcards

1
Q

Skolithos

A

Vertical burrow

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2
Q

Diplocraterion

A

U-shaped burrow

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3
Q

Thallasinoides

A

Branching burrow

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4
Q

Rusophyctus

A

Trilobite resting trace

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5
Q

Cruziana

A

Trilobite walking trace

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6
Q

Trinucleus

A

Infaunal Trilobite
Sensory pits instead of eyes
Large genial spines
Small thorax

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7
Q

Calymene

A

Epifaunal Trilobite
Large thorax to spread weight
Eyes on top of head to see predators

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8
Q

Agnostus

A
Planktonic Trilobite 
Blind
Pygidium same size as Cephalon for balance 
Inflatable glabella 
Small thorax
Fins on pygidium to steer
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9
Q

Deiphon

A
Nektonic Trilobite
Thoracic segments separated and not jointed to spread weight
Large genal angle
Inflatable glabella
Fin like pygidium 
Eyes in front of head to look for prey
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10
Q

Rugose

A
Horn shaped Coral (Lithostotian) 
Large corallites
Sometimes dissepiments
Bilateral symmetry 
Columella always present
Major septa at 6 points and Minor septa at 4 points
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11
Q

Tabulate

A
Honey comb shaped coral (Halysites)
Well developed tabulae
Small corallites 
No dissepiments or columella 
Radial symmetry 
Septa sometimes present but not well developed 
May have mural pores
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12
Q

Scleractinian

A
Modern coral (Thecosmilia)
Small corallites 
Always contains dissepiments 
Radial symmetry
Columella may be present
Major septa at 6 points
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12
Q

Terebratulid

A

Brachiopod
Smooth shell
Large pedicle foramen, suggest epifaunal + sessile
Lived in high energy environment

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13
Q

Speriferid

A

Brachiopod
Wide shell to spread weight on sediment
Sessile epifaunal

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14
Q

Productid

A

Brachiopod
Large spines used for anchoring in the ground
Convex pedicle valve also for anchoring

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15
Q

Rhynchonellid

A

Brachiopod
Ribs for strength in high energy environments
Crenelated commisure to prevent sediment getting into the shell

16
Q

Mytilus

A

Bivalve - Epifaunal
Byssus (thread like structure for attachment to substrate)
Layer of periostracum protects from acidic water
Strong, streamlined shell and large adductor muscles for high energy environment i.e. Littoral zone

17
Q

Ostrea

A

Bivalve - Epifaunal
Cement used for attachment
Thick shell and strong adductor muscle for high energy environment
Larger left valve cemented to sediment, smaller right valve acts like a lid

18
Q

Gryphaea

A

Bivalve - Epifaunal
Larger left valve to spread weight on the sediment as no attachments
Small right valve like a lid (small so not caught like a sail in current)
Thick shell for high energy environment

19
Q

Cytherea

A

Bivalve - Infaunal
Ribs
Small pallial sinus and no gap between valves
Short retractable siphon
Smooth shell for easy burrowing
Large adductor muscle scar lived in high energy environment i.e. Littoral zone

20
Q

Solen

A

Bivalve - Infaunal
Large pallial sinus for long siphon
Smooth and elongated shell for easy movement in burrow
Small adductor muscle scars because no reason to open valves in burrow
Anterior and posterior gapes because siphon and foot can’t be retracted fully

21
Q

Pecten

A

Bivalve - Nektonic
Thin corrugated valves to be strong but light
Ears making hinge line straight improves stability and speed while swimming
Lots of tiny eyes in the edge of the mantel sense shadows of predators

22
Q

Buccinum

A

Gastropod
Short siphon to respire in clean water as ploughs through sediment
Carnivorous, radula scraps soft tissue off prey

23
Q

Planorbis

A

Gastropod
Thin shelled as lived in low energy environment
Flat coil, little to no spire
Sinistral

24
Q

Turritella

A

Gastropod
Large spire to anchor in sediment (small apical angle)
Infaunal filter feeder

25
Q

Tetragraptus

A
Graptolite
Uniserial 
Pendent 
Four stipes
Simple Theca
26
Q

Didymograptus 1

A
Graptolite 
Uniserial
Pendent 
Two stipes 
Simple Theca
27
Q

Didymograptus 2

A
Graptolite 
Uniserial 
Pendent Horizontal
Two stipes 
Simple Theca
28
Q

Dicellograptus

A
Graptolites 
Uniserial
Reclined
Two stipes
Sigmoidal Theca
29
Q

Diplograptus

A
Graptolite
Biserial
Scandent
Single stipe
Simple Theca
30
Q

Monograptus

A
Graptolite
Uniserial 
Scandent
Single stipe
Simple or lobated Theca
31
Q

Ostracods

A

Microfossil
Complex crustaceans with 2 valves, teeth and muscles
Made of chitin
Paleoenvironment indicator as varied in salinity

32
Q

Foraminifera

A

Microfossils
Single called creature with protective test
Captured food using thread like structures
Excellent stratigraphic (dating) tool, used by oil companies

33
Q

Conodonts

A

Microfossils
Teeth of soft bodied creature
Made of calcium phosphate
Found in Precambrian rocks

34
Q

Radiolaria

A
Microfossils
Planktonic animals
Made of silica
Found below CCD (carbon compensation depth - below which calcite is unstable so dissolves)
Easy to recover