  Amber—a hard, yellowish, translucent, fossilized plant resin. Ammonite—ammonoid Anterior—front or fore. Anus—the terminal opening of the alimentary canal, through which waste matter is discarded from the body. Aperture—the opening of shells, cells, etc. Aragonite—calcium carbonate (CaCO3) crystallizing in a different form than Archeozoic—the oldest known geological era; early Articulated—joined by interlocking processes or by teeth and sockets. Asymmetrical—without or lacking Bilateral—pertaining to the two halves of a body as symmetrical and mirror images of each other. Binomial nomenclature— Blastoid—stalked Brachiopod—bivalved marine invertebrate; member of Brackish—a mixture of salt and fresh waters. Burrow—a hole in the ground, Calcareous—composed of, or containing, calcium carbonate; limy. Calcite—calcium carbonate (CaCO3) crystallizing in a different form than Cambrian—the first (oldest) Calyx—in corals the bowl-shaped depression in the upper part of the skeleton; in stalked echinoderms that part of the body which contains most of the soft parts. Caprinid—a Carapace—the hard protective covering that forms the Carbonization—the process of fossilization whereby organic remains are reduced to carbon or coal. Cast—the impression taken from a mold. Cenozoic—the latest era of geologic time, following the Cephalon—the head; in trilobites the Cephalopod—marine invertebrate with well-defined head and eyes and with tentacles around the mouth; member of class Cephalopoda, Ceratite—an ammonoid Chert—a cryptocrystalline Chitin—a horn-like substance, found in the hard parts of many animals, such as beetles, crabs, etc. Chitinous—composed of Cirri—in crinoids, the jointed appendages which branch off the side of the stem or from the base of some crinoid stems. Coelenterate—invertebrates characterized by a hollow body cavity, radial Colonial—in biology refers to the way in which some invertebrates live in close association with, and are more or less interdependent upon, each other; Columella—a small column or central axis; in corals the small rod or axial pillar in the center of the Columnal—one of the disk-shaped segments of a crinoid stalk. Concentric—having a common center, as circles; refers to shell markings that are parallel to shell margin. Concretion—nodular or irregular masses in sedimentary rocks and usually formed around a central core, which is often a Conical—cone-shaped. Conodont—minute tooth-like fossils found in certain Coral—bottom-dwelling marine invertebrate that secretes Corallite—the skeleton formed by an individual Corallum—the skeleton of a Corona—crown; in echinoids the main part of the skeleton consisting of symmetrically arranged Coprolite—the Correlation—the process of demonstrating that certain strata are closely related to each other or that they are stratigraphic equivalents. Cretaceous—the third and last Cystoid—an extinct stemmed Dendritic—resembling a tree, branching. Dentition—the Devonian—the fourth oldest Dip—the angle of inclination which the bedding plane of rocks makes with a real or imaginary horizontal line. Distillation—in fossils that process by which volatile organic matter is removed, leaving a carbon residue. Dolomite—a mineral composed of calcium magnesium carbonate (CaMg(CO3)2). Dorsal—pertaining to the back. Echinoderm—a marine invertebrate with Echinoid—bottom-dwelling, unattached marine invertebrate with Endoskeleton—the internal supporting structure of an animal. Eocene—the next to earliest of the Equivalved—right and left valves subequal and (except for hinge structures) comprising mirror images of each other. Evolution—a term applied to those methods or processes and to the sum of those processes whereby organisms change through successive generations. Exoskeleton—an external skeleton, or hard covering for the protection of soft parts, particularly among invertebrates. Fault—the displacement of rocks along a zone of fracture. Fauna—an assemblage of animals (living or Flank—the side or Flora—an assemblage of plants (living or Fold—in brachiopods, a major rounded elevation of shell which affects both inner and outer shell surfaces. Foramen—in brachiopods, the opening in the pedicle Foraminifer—a protozoan usually possessing a Formation—a Fossil—the remains or traces of organisms buried by natural causes and preserved in the earth’s crust. Fossiliferous—containing fossilized organic remains. Fusulinid—a spindle-shaped Gastrolith—highly polished well-rounded pebbles found associated with certain reptilian fossils; “stomach stones.” Gastropod—a terrestrial or aquatic invertebrate, typically possessing a single-valved, Geologic age—the age of an object as stated in terms of geologic time (e.g., a Geologic map—map showing distribution of Geologic range—the known duration of an organism’s existence throughout geologic time (e.g., Glauconite—a greenish mineral commonly formed in marine environments and essentially a hydrous silicate of iron and potassium. Goniatite—an ammonoid Graptolite—an extinct, marine, Guide fossil—see Habitat—the physical environment in which an organism lives. Hinge-line—in brachiopods, the edge of the shell where the two valves articulate; in pelecypods, the Igneous rock—rocks which have solidified from lava or molten Index fossil—see Inequivalved—opposite valves unlike in shape or size, or both. Jurassic—second oldest Keel—a strong continuous ridge along the Larva—the young form of some animals before they assume the mature shape. Lateral—side or to the side. Lithology—the study and description of rocks based on the megascopic (with the naked eye) examination of samples. Used also to refer to the texture and composition of any given Living chamber—in mollusks, that part of the shell which is occupied by the living animal. Lobe—in cephalopods, the backward flexure of the Longitudinal—in a direction parallel with the length. Lophophore—in brachiopods, a tentacle-bearing appendage attached to the Mantle—in mollusks and brachiopods, a layer of tissue containing cells that secrete the shell. Meso-—a prefix signifying middle. Mesozoic—that era of geologic time that precedes the Miocene—fourth oldest epoch of the Mississippian—fifth oldest Multicellular—composed of more than one cell. Nacreous—pearly. Node—a knob. -oid—a suffix meaning “in the form of.” Oligocene—the third oldest epoch of the Operculum—the lid or covering of the Oral—referring to the mouth or Orbitoidids—foraminifers with large typically disk-shaped tests. Ordovician—second oldest Ossicle—loosely used as a small plate. Paleocene—oldest epoch of the Paleozoic—that era of geologic time that follows Pedicle opening (pedicle Pelecypod—a bivalved aquatic invertebrate; member of class Pelecypoda, Pennsylvanian—the sixth oldest Period—a division of geologic time (Pl. 1). Periostracum—the horny outer covering or epidermis on shells. Permian—seventh and last Permineralization—that process by which mineral matter has been added to the original shell material by precipitation in the interstices rather than replacing the original shell material. Phosphatic—containing or pertaining to phosphate minerals. Phylum—one of the primary divisions of the animal or vegetable kingdoms. Planispiral—shell coiled in one plane. Pleistocene—earliest epoch of Pleural—referring to the side or ribs; in trilobites, refers to Pliocene—latest epoch of Polygonal—many sided or having many-sided plates. Polyp—a many-tentacled aquatic Porcelaneous—like porcelain. Pore—a very small opening. Posterior—situated behind; to the rear. Precambrian—that portion of geologic time before the Protero—combining form meaning fore, former, or Proterozoic—youngest era of the Protista—the organic kingdom including the simplest of all one-celled organisms which possess various characters of both plants and animals; bacteria, algae, foraminifers, radiolarians. Protoconch—in mollusks, the initial chamber of shell. Pyrite—a hard, brass-yellow mineral composed of iron sulfide; “fool’s gold.” Quaternary—the youngest Radial symmetry—see Reef—a mound-like or ridge-like elevation of the sea bottom which almost reaches the surface of the water, composed primarily of organic material and commonly formed by reef-building animals, such as corals and oysters. Replacement—type of fossilization whereby hard parts of organisms are removed by solution accompanied by almost simultaneous deposition of other substances in the resulting voids; mineralization. Respiration—the process of oxygenation. Rock—an aggregation of one or more minerals. Rock-unit—divisions of rocks based on definite physical and lithologic characteristics and not defined on the basis of geologic time alone; groups, formations, members. Rudistid—a Saddle—in cephalopods, the forward flexure (curved toward the Scaphopod—an exclusively marine mollusk with a single-valved tusk-shaped shell; member of class Scaphopoda, Scavenger—an animal that feeds on organic refuse. Sedentary—stationary in life, not moving from place to place. Sediment—material that has been deposited by settling from a transportation agent such as water or air; typically composed of weathered Sedimentary rock—rocks formed from the accumulation and lithification of sediments. Segment—one of the parts into which a body naturally separates or is divided; for example, segments of arthropods or annelid worms. Septal—pertaining to the Septum (plural, septa)—a dividing wall or partition; in fusulinids, a partition between chambers in the Series—the rocks formed during an epoch; the time-stratigraphic term next in rank below a Serrate—notched like a saw. Sessile—animal attached to the sea floor more or less permanently. Silica—an oxide of silicon (SiO2). Siliceous—containing or pertaining to Silicification—the process of combining or impregnating with Silurian—the third oldest Sinus—an elongate depression on Siphuncle—in cephalopods, the segmented horny or Slickensides—polished and grooved surfaces that are the result of two Solitary—living alone; not part of a colony. Species—one of the smaller natural divisions in classification. Specific name—see Spicule—a minute spike or dart, skeletal element in sponges and holothurians. Stratum (plural, strata)—a single bed or layer of Strike—the direction of a real or imaginary line that is formed by the intersection of a bed or Subconical—less than Suture—the line of junction between two parts; in crinoids, the line of junction between two plates; in gastropods, the line of junction of the whorls as seen on the exterior of the shell; in cephalopods, the line of junction between a Symmetry—orderly arrangement of parts of an object with reference to lines, planes, or points. Pentamerous System—the rocks formed during a Taxonomy—that branch of science that deals with classification, especially in relation to plants, animals, or fossils. Tertiary—the oldest Test—the protective covering of some invertebrate animals. Theca—a sheath or case; in coelenterates, the bounding wall at or near the margin of the Thorax—in trilobites, that part of the body between the Time-unit—a portion of continuous geologic time (e.g., eras, periods, epochs, and ages). Time-rock unit—same as time-stratigraphic unit. Time-stratigraphic unit—term given to Topography—the physical features or configuration of a land surface. Topographic map—a map showing the physical features of an area, especially the relief and contour of the land. Transverse—at right angles to length. Triassic—the youngest Trilobite—an extinct marine arthropod having a flattened segmented body covered by a hardened Trivial name—the Latinized name added to a generic name to distinguish the Type locality—the geographic location at which a Type specimen—the individual or specimen on which the original designation of a Umbilicus—an external depression or opening at the center of many loosely coiled shells; in gastropods it is usually located at the base of the shell; in cephalopods it is usually located laterally. Umbo—the arched part of the Unicellular—composed of one cell. Valve—the one or more pieces comprising the shell of animals. Variety—a subdivision of a Ventral—pertaining to the abdomen; as opposed to Vertebrate—an animal having a backbone or spinal column. Whorl—a single turn or volution of a coiled shell. -zoic—combining form meaning “life” (Greek zoikos, life). Zooecium (plural, zooecia)—tube or chamber occupied by an individual of the bryozoan colony; also called an autopore. |
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