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Graptolites

Scientific Classification |
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Graptolites are an extinct group of marine animals
that lived in the seas from the Cambrian period until
the end Carboniferous period. The were extremely
successful and lived in
colonies - there were both benthic (permanently attached
to the sea-floor by a "root") and
pelagic (floating freely, or attached to seaweed) varieties.
Graptolite
are very common, particularly those which were deposited in mud rocks
and shales, as a result are often used as "index fossils"
- that is to say that rocks can be dated. Additionally,
The particular type of graptolite fossil
present in a rock can sometimes used by scientists to estimate the temperature or depth
of a region at the time of the Graptolite's lifetime.
Although Graptolite fossils
tend to be quite common, they are not always easy to see.
Even if seen, many casual observers mistake them for
fossil plants,
and even Carl Linnaeus (the Swedish botanist who was the principle founder
of modern taxonomy) regarded them as
"pictures resembling fossils rather than true fossils"
Finally, the presence of two distinct types of Grapolites in the rocks
of Europe
and North America, just like the two distinct types of
Trilobites
found in the very same rocks, has been regarded as evidence of an ancient ocean
(known as the "Iapetus Ocean") that once lay between the two continents.
The Iapetus Ocean is thought to have closed-up again when all the continents joined
together in the super-continent of Pangaea - and when a new ocean (the Atlantic Ocean), separating
Europe and North America,
did eventually appear, it did so along
a somewhat different line of separation.

Graptolites were marine colonial animals that lived from the Cambrian period to the Carboniferous periods
Related Information & Resources
See Also
Graptolite Books Here are some books from Amazon.com:
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By Jörg Maletz
Wiley-Interscience Released: May 8th, 2017 Paperback (336 pages)
 | List Price: $62.50* Lowest New Price: $16.06* In Stock.* *(As of 22:58 Pacific 17 Jan 2021 More Info)
Click Here | Description: Graptolite Paleobiology (TOPA Topics in Paleobiology)- Manufacturer: Wiley-Blackwell
- Brand: Wiley-Interscience
- ISBNs: 9781118515723, 1118515722
- EAN: 9781118515723
Details:- Paperback
- Edition: 1
- Number of Pages: 336
- Author: Jörg Maletz
- Publication Date: May 8th, 2017
- Release Date: May 8th, 2017
Physical Description:- Size: 9.598406 Inches by 7.499985 Inches by 0.700786 Inches
- Weight: 1.71078715312 Pounds
Click here for more information |
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By Joachim Barrande
Nabu Press Released: November 3rd, 2011 Paperback (110 pages)
 | Lowest New Price: $19.75* Available to ship in 1-2 days.* *(As of 22:58 Pacific 17 Jan 2021 More Info)
Click Here | Description: Graptolites De Bohême... (French Edition)- Manufacturer: Nabu Press
- Brand: Nabu Press
- ISBN: 1270986228
- EAN: 9781270986225
Details:- Paperback
- Number of Pages: 110
- Author: Joachim Barrande
- Publication Date: November 3rd, 2011
- Release Date: November 3rd, 2011
Physical Description:- Size: 9.68502 Inches by 7.44093 Inches by 0.2287397 Inches
- Weight: 0.46958461806 Pounds
Click here for more information |
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By Rudolf Ruedemann
Nabu Press Released: August 1st, 2010 Paperback (394 pages)
 | Lowest New Price: $33.75* Available to ship in 1-2 days.* *(As of 22:58 Pacific 17 Jan 2021 More Info)
Click Here | Description: Graptolites of New York Volume 1- Manufacturer: Nabu Press
- Brand: Nabu Press
- ISBN: 1176640909
- EAN: 9781176640900
Details:- Paperback
- Number of Pages: 394
- Author: Rudolf Ruedemann
- Publication Date: August 1st, 2010
- Release Date: August 1st, 2010
Physical Description:- Size: 9.68502 Inches by 7.44093 Inches by 0.8102346 Inches
- Weight: 1.54984970186 Pounds
Click here for more information |
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