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A genus of cretaceous fossil shells allied to the oyster.

A genus of fossil fishes, found in Devonian and carboniferous strata; -- so named from their round, sculptured spines.

A genus of Silurian fossil corals; the chain corals. See Chain coral, under Chain.

A fossil cephalopod of the genus Hamites, related to the ammonites, but having the last whorl bent into a hooklike form.

It is the only living representative of the order Rhynchocephala, of which many Mesozoic fossil species are known; -- called also Sphenodon, and Tuatera.

A fossil coral of the genus Heliolites, having twelve-rayed cells. It is found in the Silurian rocks.

The figure of plants in minerals or fossils.

A fossil bivalve mollusk of the genus Hippurites, of many species, having a conical, cup-shaped under valve, with a flattish upper valve or lid. Hippurites are found only in the Cretaceous rocks.

Of or pertaining to certain non-fossiliferous rocks on the borders of Lake Huron, which are supposed to correspond in time to the latter part of the Archæan age.

A fossil footprint; as, the ichnites in the Triassic sandstone. Page.

A fossil footprint; an ichnite.

The branch of science which treats of fossil footprints.

Fossil dung of fishes.

An oily substance prepared by the dry distillation of a bituminous mineral containing fossil fishes. It is used in medicine as a remedy in some forms of skin diseases.

A fossil fish, or fragment of a fish.

In its natural position or place; -- said of a rock or fossil, when found in the situation in which it was originally formed or deposited.

To make hard; as, extreme heat indurates clay; some fossils are indurated by exposure to the air.

An extinct genus of large, fossil, bivalve shells,allied to the mussels. The genus is characteristic of the Cretaceous period.

The median of the three elements composing the centra of the vertebræ in some fossil batrachians.

A large clavate spine of a fossil sea urchin.