Invertebrate Macro Fossils Lab Flashcards

Phylum Porifera

• Composed of sponges, characterized by a skeleton that provides structural support.

Phylum Cnidaria

• Includes various organisms such as corals, anemones, jellyfish, and hydroids.
• Divided into subclasses including Anthozoa.

Cnidaria: Anthozoa

• Benthic marine suspension feeders, primarily living on the sea floor.

Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Rugose Corals

• Existed from the Ordovician to Permian periods; now extinct.

Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Tabulate Corals

• Known for their colonial forms, which create a distinctive honeycomb appearance.

Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Scleractinian

• Also known as Hexa-corals; resemble rugose corals but have different skeletal structures.

Phylum Mollusca

• Highly diverse group of invertebrates including various classes.

Mollusca: Gastropod

• Represents slugs and snails that typically exhibit a coiled body structure.

Mollusca: Bivalvia

• Composed of clams, characterized by two shells hinged together.

Mollusca: Cephalopoda

• Includes squids, octopuses, and chambered nautilus, known for their complex behavior.

Mollusca: Cephalopoda: Nautiloidea

• Features shells that can be straight, coiled, or comprise septa to divide chambers.

Septa

• Refers to the partitions that separate the chambers within nautiloid shells.

Phylum Bryozoa

• Resembles sponges or corals; closest living relatives to brachiopods.

Phylum Brachiopoda

• Characterized by two shells held together either by muscle or a peg-and-socket hinge.

Brachiopoda: Inarticulate Brachiopods

• Shells are connected solely by muscles without a hinge mechanism.

Brachiopoda: Articulate Brachiopods

• Feature a peg-and-socket hinge for connecting the two shells.

Phylum Arthropoda: Crustacea

• Encompasses crabs, shrimp, lobsters, and barnacles, all of which have jointed limbs.

Arthropoda: Crustacea: Cirripedia

• Specifically refers to barnacles that serve as benthic marine suspension feeders.

Phylum Echinodermata

• Includes starfish, sea urchins, and similar organisms characterized by a unique body structure.

Echinodermata: Crinoidea

• Known as sea lilies or feather stars, resembling flowers in appearance.

Echinodermata: Echinoidea

• Comprises sea urchins featuring a spherical or flattened globular body shape.

Mollusca: Cephalopoda: Ammonoidea

• Characterized by septa and sutures displaying a wavy pattern.

Mollusca: Cephalopoda: Belemnoidea

• Distinct for their solid, cigar-shaped structures.

Phylum Arthropoda

• Defined by segmented bodies and an external skeleton providing protection and support.

Arthropoda: Trilobita

• An extinct class of marine arthropods featuring a three-part body: head, thorax, and tail.

Test your knowledge on invertebrate macro fossils with this set of flashcards. Explore the classification and key characteristics of various groups like Porifera and Cnidaria. Ideal for students studying marine biology or paleontology.