Search the Dictionary

The science which treats of the ancient life of the earth, or of fossils which are the remains of such life.

The branch of paleontology which treats of fossil birds.

A genus of fossil saurians found in the Permian formation.

A fossil palm.

A genus of large arenaceous fossil Foraminifera found in the Cretaceous rocks. The species are globular, or nearly so, and are of all sizes up to that of a tennis ball.

An extensive genus of fossil ferns; -- so named from the regular comblike arrangement of the leaflets.

An old name for a fossil plant.

The branch of science which treats of fossil plants; -- usually called paleobotany, sometimes paleophytology.

One of the lateral elements in the centra of the vertebræ in some fossil batrachians.

d of silica, and is often very elegant in form and sculpture. Many have been found in the fossil state.

A fossil coral.

The anterior prolongation of the guard of the phragmocone of belemnites and allied fossil cephalopods, whether horny or calcareous. See Illust. of Phragmocone.

A genus of fossil horses from the Lower Pliocene. They had three toes on each foot, the lateral ones being small.

A genus of Devonian fossil fishes with winglike appendages. The head and most of the body were covered with large bony plates. See Placodermi.

Any fossil fish belonging to the Pycnodontini. They have numerous round, flat teeth, adapted for crushing.

rbon, polymeric with benzene. It is extracted from pine tar, and is also found in certain fossil resins.

rtaining to resin; derived from resin; specifically, designating an acid found in certain fossil resins and hydrocarbons.

y other peculiar osteological characters. Hatteria is the only living genus, but numerous fossil genera are known, some of which are among the earliest of reptiles. See Hatteria. Called also Rhynchocephalia.

A fossil cephalopod beak.

A genus of brachiopods of which some species are still living, while many are found fossil.