Paleontology i i Fossil Classification

GOL 106: Historical Geology

Northern Virginia Community College

Dr. Victor P. Zabielski

Paleontology Lab II

Classification of Fossils

Objective:

The objective of this lab is to introduce you to the classification scheme for

fossil invertebrates. You will learn what features distinguish the major Phylums,

Classes and Orders of invertebrates and how to use these to identify fossils.

Introduction: This weeks lab represents the second in a series of labs devoted to fossils and

fossilization. Carolus Linnaeus (1707-1778) first proposed a hierarchical classification

system for all living organism based on the number or type of shared characteristics.

Organisms with many shared characteristics were classified together in larger, less

distinct and more inclusive categories. The further one proceeded down the list, the more

characteristics that needed to be shared. The Linnaean scheme is as follows with the first

category being the most inclusive with the least number or characteristics in common.

Kingdom

Phylum

Class

Order

Family

Genus

Species

Biologists can easily classify an organism down to a genus or species level. Although

this can be done for many fossils, it cannot be done for all since many fossils do not

preserve enough detail to allow for such detailed identification. For this lab, and for most

fossils, it is only necessary to identify an organism down to its class or order. Often it

may only be possible to classify an organism down to its Phylum.

Assignment: A representative collection of invertebrate fossils has been provided for you to

examine. Go through the various Phylums, Classes and Orders and fill out the

information sheet for each of the major fossil types. Be sure you know the characteristics

of each fossil that place it in each of the classification categories. Complete a data sheet

for each type of fossil identified on the accompanying classification sheet.

Note: Be sure you understand how to read the classification table. A sponge

sample will fulfill your need for the Phylum Porifera, but a tabulate coral will be

classified as Phylum Cnidaria, Class Anthozoa, and Order Tabulata.

You may need to print out additional data pages in order to have one for each sample,

or just use blank sheets of paper to record the information.

Chapter 3 (The Diversity of Life) in your text (pg. 49) may be helpful in identifying the

characteristics that distinguish each group of organisms

Another good link is located at:

http://web.newsguy.com/dhacat/geo/

This site was created by a former NVCC student in Historical Geology and

contains images of all the fossil groups you are studying in this lab.

Fossil Classification Lab

Kingdom ANIMALIA –multicellular, sexually reproducing heterotrophs

Phylum Porifera – sponges, single or colonial, composed of siliceous or calcareous spicules that fuse

together, marine Phylum Cnidaria – (Scyphozoa – jellyfish; Hydrozoa – sea anemones; Anthozoa – corals) bodies

composed of two layers enclosing a central cavity, radial symmetry Class Anthozoa - corals

Order Tabulata – individual corallites partitioned by transverse tabulae, no septa

(Ord-Per)

Order Rugosa – four primary septa, secondary ones evolve during maturity(Cam-Per)

Order Scleractinia – septa in sets of six or multiples of six.

Phylum Bryozoa – aquatic, sessile, colonial (Ord – present)

Phylum Brachiopoda – marine bivalve, filter feeding, bilateral symmetrical (Paleozoic, still remain in

very small numbers)

Phylum Mollusca –diverse group with a muscular foot, usually with hard shell (unsegmented)

“shellfish”, with head and muscular foot

Class Gastropoda – trochoidal spiral

Class Bivalvia – bivalve with top and bottom valve mirror images of each other

Class Cephalopoda – bilaterally symmetrical, has head and tentacles

Subclass Nautiloidea – segmented shell, uncoiled or planispiral, straight or simple sutures

Subclass Ammonoidea – segemented shell, uncoiled or planispiral, highly ornate sutures

Subclass Coleoidea – shell is reduced or missing, squid, belemnoid

Phylum Annelida – segmented worm – forms burrows

Phylum Arthropoda – Segmented exoskeleton and paired, jointed limbs, bilaterally symmetrical

Superclass Trilobitomorpha

Class Trilobita – “trilobites”, 3 lobed body, bilaterally symmetrical (Paleozoic)

Superclass Crustacea

Class Cirripedia - fused head and body (barnacles)

Phylum Echinodermata – 5 fold symmetry with body composed of plates with spines

SubPhyllum Crinozoa – Sessile. attached to sea floor by tubular, segmented stem. Calyx attached

by ligaments usually decays after death causing plates to separate. Class Crinoidea – has long stem. Long brachioles (arms) on calyx (head)

SubPhyllum Blastozoa – Sessile. attached to sea floor by tubular, segmented stem. Theca (calyx)

plates are fused allowing head to remain intact after death.

Class Blastoidea – “blastoids”, has short stem. Symmetrical arrangement of plates and arms.

Class Rhombifera – “cystoids”. Primitive relatives of blastoids. Irregular arrangement of

plates and arms

SubPhylum Echinozoa – sea urchins – Motile, able to move, five plates

Class Echinoidea – sea urchins, sea biscuits, sand dollars

SubPhylum Asterozoa- Motile. star shaped

Class Asteroidea – star fish (no central body)

Class Ophiuroidea – brittle star (has distinct central body

Unknown Tentaculita – small, conical shell, tapers at end, concentric ribs along length (genus?)

Kingdom PROTISTA

Phylum Protozoa – unicellular heterotrophs

Class Sarcodina

Order Foraminifera

Order Radiolaria

Common name: ____________________

Phylum: ____________________

Distinguishing characteristic of Phylum ________________________________________________________________________

SubPhylum: ____________________

Distinguishing characteristic of SubPhylum ________________________________________________________________________

Class: ____________________

Distinguishing characteristic of Class ________________________________________________________________________

Order/SubClass: ____________________

Distinguishing characteristic of Order/SubClass ________________________________________________________________________

Single animal (solitary) or a colony of many animals (colonial)? _________________________

Age of first appearance/evolution: ___________________________________________

When did it go extinct (if applicable): _______________________________________________

Method of fossilization: __________________________________________________________

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Method of fossilization:___________________________________________________________

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Method of fossilization:___________________________________________________________

Documents

Paleontology i i Fossil Classification