Isotelus - Ohio's State Fossil

Jan. 11, 2014

Ohio's State Fossil - Isotelus

Description From Ohio History Central - http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Ohio%27s_State_Fossil_-_Isotelus?rec=1874

 In 1985, the Ohio government made Isotelus Ohio's official fossil. Isotelus is a trilobite that existed between 430 and 480 million years ago. At this point in time, an ocean covered much of what is now Ohio. Isotelus is evidence of this, as it was a marine organism. A trilobite was an invertebrate creature that had a hard outer shell or skeleton. Two lines crossed the body of the trilobite, making it appear to be in three parts. Trilobite means "three-lobed creature." Isotelus primarily lived during the Ordovician Age. They were one of the largest trilobites, with some of these animals reaching nearly thirty inches in length. Isotelus no longer exist, becoming extinct approximately 430 million years ago.

Isotelus - Ohio's State Fossil

http://geosurvey.ohiodnr.gov/portals/geosurvey/PDFs/GeoFacts/geof06.pdf

Ohio Trilobites

http://geosurvey.ohiodnr.gov/portals/geosurvey/PDFs/GeoFacts/geof05.pdf

Fossil Collecting in Ohio

http://geosurvey.ohiodnr.gov/portals/geosurvey/PDFs/GeoFacts/geof17.pdf

Summary of Geological History in Ohio

http://geosurvey.ohiodnr.gov/portals/geosurvey/PDFs/GeoFacts/geof23.pdf

GeoFacts Series Listing by Topic

http://geosurvey.ohiodnr.gov/publications-maps-data/free-downloads/geofacts-series

Two big trilobites have been found in the Caesar Creek Spillway. This one is on display in the Visitor Center. The other one is in the Smithsonian. Photo credit; Erin Shaw - ODNR Caesar Creek Naturalist

 

Cincinnati Dry Dredgers References

Types of Cincinnatian Trilobites

http://drydredgers.org/trilobit.htm

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