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Hi, @heath-carroll this definitely looks like a fossil echinoderm. Probably part of a crinoid stem. If you edit your specimens you can add in information on classification, location, and more. Otherwise, I can just include them in the groups for conversation rather than as specimens with data. It has to do if you click that check box in the app saying add to myFOSSIL gallery. Talk to you soon, Jen

I am starting to learn the eras and time information. And trying to educate myself on the family etc of these fossils but I am not comfortable that my knowledge is good enough to answer some of the questions. If I don’t know for sure I will leave blank. I will say that I am thoroughly enjoying this learning experience.

Hi, @heath-carroll – The classification would be as follows: Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Echinodermata, Class Crinoidea. Then you could put crinoid in the common name since that’s how we refer to them in general conversation. Does that all make sense?
Here is a link to a database that helps with classification: https://paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon_no=31590

If you want to dive into geologic context some more I suggest using Macrostrat’s geologic map feature. Here is a link to Iowa: https://macrostrat.org/map/#/z=6.8/x=-93.3898/y=41.9574/bedrock/lines/ or just google Macrostrat and you can play around on it yourself. It’s very cool.

The Digital Encyclopedia of Ancient Life (DEAL) is a free online resource that you may find useful: https://www.digitalatlasofancientlife.org/learn/

Talk to you soon,
Jen

Thank you for the help you give me. It is a lot to learn but I really enjoy it.

Hi, @heath-carroll – It’s my pleasure. It seems like you are finding a lot of cool stuff, it is absolutely a lot to learn but that’s all part of the fun of it!