Classification

Rugose
Animalia
Cnidaria
Anthozoa
UNKNOWN
UNKNOWN
UNKNOWN
UNKNOWN
UNKNOWN
UNKNOWN
UNKNOWN

Location

United States
Iowa
Decatur
Terra hautte
40.683579
93.8798308

Geochronology

Phanerozoic
UNKNOWN
UNKNOWN
UNKNOWN
UNKNOWN

Lithostratigraphy

UNKNOWN
UNKNOWN
UNKNOWN

Dimensions

5cm
5cm
5cm

Notes

Hexacorallia
Savannah De Vaine
7/8/2022
Found walking down a creek off old unincorporated town named terra hautte ia
  • Profile picture of Savannah Devaine

    Savannah Devaine posted a new specimen. 8 months, 2 weeks ago

    8 months, 2 weeks ago
    8 months, 2 weeks ago

    Savannah Devaine has contributed specimen mFeM 128046 to myFOSSIL!

    • Profile picture of Mason Hintermeister
      Mason Hintermeister replied 8 months, 1 week ago

      @savannah-devaine Lovely fossil! It is an extinct type of coral commonly called a horn coral, or more scientifically a rugose coral. It’s a type of solitary coral which was common before the days of the dinosaurs. If you wouldn’t mind completing a few extra steps, I’d love to add this to our research database!

      Steps:
      Take a photograph of the…[Read more]

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  • How do I know my fossil identification is correct?
    • If you are concerned, it is a good idea to post an image in the forum “What is it? And more experienced collectors and professionals can examine the specimen and help you with your identification. You can also look through some online resources. For invertebrate fossils the Digital Atlas of Ancient Life has several projects from different time periods across the continental United States with pictures to help guide you through finding fossil species.
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  • Why do we need to include phylum, class, order, family, if the species is the important part?
    • The Linnaean classification system is used to aid in communication about different groups of life on Earth. There are several organizations such as the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature that provide guidelines for the usage or complications with the naming of animals. Similarly, there is a different organization that has guidelines and rules for the naming of plant life.
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  • How do I go figuring out the age and name of the rock I was collecting in?
    • A starting place would be to ask the group or organization that you went collecting with for information on the outcrop you visited. There are also several apps for your mobile phone or other devices that can help you better estimate where you are in geologic time. Mancos costs $2.99 through the Apple Store and provides you with data on your location including geologic age, the rock formation, description of the rock, what units are above and below, and what sort of fossils you should expect to find in the rock. Rockd is free and available in the Apple Store and on Google Play. Similarly, Rockd tells you where are with latitude and longitude data, elevation, what age, what the rock type is, what rock unit you are on, and the functionality continues. You are able to check in at outcrops, use a compass, examine ancient continent arrangements, and learn about different rock forming minerals within the app.
    • Post in the Ideas for New Forums forum and suggest a new forum for geologic time and/or stratigraphy to get a community discussion going and get input from experts.
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  • What is the difference between a group, formation, and member?
    • Similar to Linnaean classification, there is a hierarchical structure to rocks. A member is a distinct part of a formation. A formation can be made up of many members. Formations form the primary basis of subdivisions of a sequence and can vary in thickness (centimeters to kilometers). A group is several formations that share similar features or characteristics in the rocks they bear.
    • Click here for more information from the British Geological Survey.
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