Ammonites (Cophinoceras)

Most fossils are impressions of the original organisms preserved in rock.From the late Silurian to early Devonian Ammonites were extremely abundant, during the Mesozoic era. A few million years later they became extinct. Ammonites had soft bodies and were also known to be agile and intelligent invertebrates. Their bodies had straight or coiled chambered shells and sometimes lined with mineral deposits called (Camerel). Ammonites were creatures of warm tropical waters and probably preyed on fish, crustaceans and other small ocean creatures. These organisms were said to be related to the Coleoidea (Octopus, squid and the cuttlefish). Ammonites were named after the Egyptian God Ammon 'The Rainbow Serpent'. Many of the ammonites today is found in sedimentary rock, like limestone, shale and clay, when found in clay their original mother-of-pearl coating is often preserved. Known occurrences are in Germany, England, and Madagascar.

Fish Fossil (Knightia Eocaenc)

Vertebrates date back to the Devonian period, about 48 million years ago. These vertebrates have internal skeletons and represent some of the most interesting organisms in fossil record. Fish fossils like the Knightia (shown above) are one of the oldest vertebrates, they first appeared in freshwater environments but the spread rapidly from lakes, to rivers and finally to the sea. Many fish fossil such as this herring like Knightia are found in the shale of The Green River formation in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming.

Trilobite (fossils)

The Trilobite is apart of the invertebrates group, known as Arthropods. Trilobites are one of the most important fossil groups. These segmented Arthropods were the most numerous and successful marine organisms of the Paleozoic era. The name Trilobite derived from the three lobes in which each body segment is divided. They existed during the Cambrian period 570 million years ago, and ranged in size from less than an inch to over three feet. Trilobites lived in mainly shallow waters of the ocean reef. This marine animal is a relative of the modern crab and the lobster. Trilobite occurrences are found in sedimentary rocks, such as limestone's and shale. Many Trilobites have been found in the Hunsruckschiefer Fauna in Germany.