Fossil Identification Galleries

All of the fossils shown in the Fossil ID Gallery can be found in North Carolina. Ages of fossils in NC can generally be characterized as being Ediacaran (~540 ma), Late Triassic (~220 ma), or Cretaceous (138 ma) up through Pleistocene (10,000 years). (ma means millions of years ago - Geologic Timeline). If a size dimension is given for a particular specimen in the Galleries, it refers to the longest dimension of the specimen. To open a picture gallery, click on any of the subheadings below

Plants (Plantae)

Triassic Leaves

Fossil Wood

Fossil Resin

Miscellaneous Invertebrates (Invertebrata)

Ediacaran Fauna

Foraminifera

Corals

Sponges

Lophophorates (Lophophorata)

Brachiopods

Bryozoa

Mollusks (Mollusca)

Gastropods

Bivalves

Cephalopods

Crustaceans (Crustacea)

Barnacles

Crabs

Ostracoda

Echinoderms (Echinodermata)

Echinoids (Sea Urchins and Sand Dollars)

Crinoids (Sea Lilies)

Asteroids (Starfish)

Ophiuroids (Brittle Stars)

Fish

Cartilaginous Fish

Bony Fish

Reptiles and Birds (Sauropsida)

Reptiles

Birds

Mammals (Mammalia)

Marine

The fossil record of marine mammals extends back more than 50 million years. Fossil seal, whale, and dolphin specimens are commonly found in North Carolina.

Terrestrial