Thursday, July 15, 2010

Carboniferous Calamites

Plant fossils recently found in Hazard (Perry County) Kentucky in the Breathitt Group.  These fossils appear to be Calamites from the Pennsylvanian (Carboniferous) Period.  The leaflets protruding from the stem segment lines are called Annularia though the entire fossil plant is Calamites. See the Kentucky Paleontological Society web site for more information.



Last two pictures are of Calamites living relative Equisetum (Horsetail Reed).


Thanks to my cousin Kenny for allowing me to photograph the fossils and the last picture on this post he took in Washington state (USA).

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Mochlophyllum maximum


Middle Devonian Period coral fossil found in Gerolstein (Allemagne) stored in Muséum National D'Historie Naturelle Jardin Des Plantes Paléontologie et Anatomie Comparée, Paris, France.  Coral is called Mochlophyllum maximum (Schluter).

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Eocene Echinoderm Fossil

Echinoderm fossil that existed in the Eocene Epoch of the Palaeogene Period.  It was found in Monroeville, Alabama (Gosport Sand?).  My research shows two sand dollar fossils being found in Alabama: Periarchus lyelli and Protoscutella mississippiensis. This specimen does not have much detail on the top of the fossil.