Common Missouri fossils include crinoids, bryozoans, brachiopods and mollusks.
Missouri is a fossil hunter's paradise, especially for those looking for fossils of marine life. Missouri fossils are found in the sedimentary layers formed millions of years ago when inland seas covered most of the state. They are found in sandstone, shale, chert, limestone and dolomite. The top four categories of common fossils found in Missouri are crinoids, bryozoans, brachiopods and mollusks, says well-known Missouri amateur paleontologist, Barry Sutton. In some specific locations trilobites and shark material are common as well, he adds.
Crinoids
Crinoids look like flowers with waving arms on long stems. These animals lived 490 million years ago and still live in our oceans today. Commonly called sea lilies, fossils of parts of this animal often appear as small discs that may have a star-shaped hole in the center. Found in Burlington limestone formations common throughout Missouri, more than 260 species have been identified.
Bryozoans
Bryozans are some of the most common fossils found throughout the world. About 470 million years old, they are small animals just big enough to be spotted with the naked eye. These animals lived in colonies, and their fossils look like twigs and are often mistaken for coral. "Bryozoans" comes from the Greek words "bryon," meaning moss, and "zoon"--animal.
Brachiopods
These bivalves had shells with two halves that opened and closed; they lived from 416 to 359 million years ago. It's common to find only half of a shell. They can range in size from fractions of an inch to 10 inches. Brachiopods still live in today's oceans and seas.
Mollusks
Most commonly known as shell fish, the family of mollusks includes clams, oysters and snails, and they appear in the fossil record about 545 million years ago. Their shells are an external skeleton. Their hard shells mean they are often well-preserved. Sometimes these fossils are preserved as molds or casts in limestone. Mollusks are useful to paleontologists as their presence or absence can help them date fossil deposits and determine the climate regime of an area.
Tags: million years, fossils found, animals lived, brachiopods mollusks, bryozoans brachiopods, bryozoans brachiopods mollusks
