Common Missouri Common Missouri FossilsFossils

TrilobitesTrilobites

Trilobites are Trilobites are extinct sea extinct sea creatures that were creatures that were one of the first one of the first forms of life on forms of life on earth. They ruled earth. They ruled the world before the world before the time of the the time of the dinosaurs.dinosaurs.

What do you think What do you think Trilobites are Trilobites are related to?related to?

Trilobites TodayTrilobites Today Their closest living Their closest living

relative today is the relative today is the horseshoe crab.horseshoe crab.

They are also related to They are also related to the lobster and crab.the lobster and crab.

Fern FossilsFern Fossils

The fern fossil The fern fossil records extend records extend back 400 million back 400 million years ago. years ago.

Ferns live in a Ferns live in a wide range of wide range of habitats, ranging habitats, ranging from the tropics to from the tropics to cold temperate cold temperate regions.regions.

Are ferns the same Are ferns the same today as they were today as they were 400 million years 400 million years

ago?ago?

Modern FernsModern Ferns

Yes. Did you know that ferns have leaves, Yes. Did you know that ferns have leaves, called fronds, which usually consist of leaflets.called fronds, which usually consist of leaflets.

CrinoidsCrinoids Crinoids resemble

flowers, with their cluster of waving arms on a long stem. They are sometimes called sea lilies.

Crinoids are not plants. They are animals that have lived in the world's oceans more than 490 million years ago.

What are modern What are modern Crinoids?Crinoids?

Crinoid relativesCrinoid relatives

Modern day Modern day relatives are relatives are starfish, sea urchins, starfish, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, and sea cucumbers, and feather stars.feather stars.

A Passion Flower feather star

Ancient GastropodsAncient Gastropods

Gastropods are the Gastropods are the most diverse and most diverse and abundant type of abundant type of mollusks, with nearly mollusks, with nearly 35,000 living and 35,000 living and 15,000 fossil species 15,000 fossil species identified so far. identified so far.

Gastropods include Gastropods include snails, slugs, conchs, snails, slugs, conchs, whelks, and limpets. whelks, and limpets.

What are modern What are modern gastropods?gastropods?

Modern GastropodsModern Gastropods

Present day Present day relatives are both relatives are both marine and land marine and land snails and slugs.snails and slugs.

Fossil BivalvesFossil Bivalves Bivalves are among Bivalves are among

the oldest fossils the oldest fossils from more than 500 from more than 500 million years ago. million years ago.

Do you have any idea Do you have any idea what modern Bivalves what modern Bivalves

are?are?

Modern BivalveModern Bivalve

Bivalves are Bivalves are mollusks.mollusks.

They have two They have two shells that are right shells that are right and left handed and left handed which are which are asymmetrical. asymmetrical.

Fossilized FishFossilized Fish Fish are the most Fish are the most

abundant of all living abundant of all living vertebrates and make up vertebrates and make up more than half of the more than half of the approximately 48,500 approximately 48,500 species with us today!  species with us today! 

Fish are rare as fossils Fish are rare as fossils because the fragile because the fragile nature of a fish body nature of a fish body makes it a poor candidate makes it a poor candidate for fossilization (except for fossilization (except shark's teeth). shark's teeth).

How do you think How do you think fish have changed fish have changed

over time?over time?

Modern Day FishModern Day Fish

MastodonsMastodons

Mastodons were leaf eaters with Mastodons were leaf eaters with multi-cusped teeth. multi-cusped teeth.

Mastodons became extinct Mastodons became extinct approximately 11,000 years ago. approximately 11,000 years ago.

Mammoths were larger and had Mammoths were larger and had teeth adapted primarily for teeth adapted primarily for grazing (eating grasses).grazing (eating grasses).

Was the Mastodon the Was the Mastodon the same as the Mammoth?same as the Mammoth?

Modern Day MastodonsModern Day Mastodons

Mammoths were Mammoths were larger and had larger and had teeth adapted teeth adapted primarily for grazing primarily for grazing (eating grass).(eating grass).

Closest modern day Closest modern day relative is the relative is the elephant.elephant.

Now - Compare the Old to the Now - Compare the Old to the NewNew

Compare the Old to the NewCompare the Old to the New