Phyllograptus

Phyllograptus
Temporal range: Early Ordovician
Phyllograptus species
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Hemichordata
Class:
Graptolithina
Order:
Graptoloidea
Family:
Phyllograptidae
Genus:
Phyllograptus

Phyllograptus is a graptolite genus of the order Graptoloidea, in the family Phyllograptidae.

Fossils of this genus have been found in the Early Ordovician (475-473 million years ago), in the sediments of Australia, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, China, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and United States.[1]

The normal length of a colony of these leaf-shaped animals could reach a length of 3.5 centimetres (1.4 in). They were passively mobile planktonic suspension feeders.[1][2]

Phyllograptus species are excellent index fossils or guide fossils for identifying Ordovician rocks.[3]

Species

  • Phyllograptus angustifolius
  • Phyllograptus anna
  • Phyllograptus densus
  • Phyllograptus glossograptoides
  • Phyllograptus rotundatus

[4]

References

  1. ^ a b Paleobiology Database
  2. ^ Fossil Museum
  3. ^ Encyclopædia Britannica
  4. ^ Fossil ID
  • Cyril Walker & David Ward (1993) - Fossielen: Sesam Natuur Handboeken, Bosch & Keuning, Baarn. ISBN 90-246-4924-2


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