Graptolites are excellent index fossils because they have a short-lived existence in the geologic time scale and are widespread. They are useful for dating rocks and correlating layers in different locations, assisting in determining the age of rocks and reconstructing past environments.
They live in the Southern Pacific.
David K. Loydell has written: 'Graptolites from the Upper Ordovician and Lower Silurian of Jordan' -- subject(s): Paleontology, Graptolites
Graptolites are extinct colonial marine organisms that lived from the Cambrian to the Carboniferous period, around 540 to 320 million years ago. They had a unique structure resembling tiny "tuning forks" and were important index fossils used for dating and correlating rock layers in geological studies.
Kate Marie Saunders has written: 'Silurian dendroid graptolites'
Index fossils can be used to help determine the relative age of rock layers. Index fossils are from species that only existed for a short time. Index fossils are found in rock layers. Trilobites and Graptolites are index fossils.
Index fossils can be used to help determine the relative age of rock layers. Index fossils are from species that only existed for a short time. Index fossils are found in rock layers. Trilobites and Graptolites are index fossils.
Lee F. Braithwaite has written: 'Historical geology exercises' -- subject(s): Geology, Laboratory manuals, Paleontology, Stratigraphic Geology 'Graptolites from the Lower Ordovician Pogonip Group of western Utah' -- subject(s): Graptolites, Paleontology
A. M. Obut has written: 'Graptolity rannego silura v Kazakhstane' -- subject- s -: Graptolites, Paleontology
Nancy Hartshorne Kirk has written: 'More thoughts on bithecae, budding and branching in the Graptolithina' -- subject- s -: Graptolites 'More thoughts on the construction and functioning of the rhabdosome in the Graptoloidea in the light of their ultrastructure' -- subject- s -: Graptolites, Graptoloidea 'Some thoughts on the construction of the rhabdosome in the Dendroidea, in the light of the ultrastructure of the Dendroidea and of Mastigograptus' -- subject- s -: Dendroidea, Mastigograptus
Barrie Rickards has written: 'Spinners, spoons and wobbled baits' -- subject(s): Spin fishing, Fishing lures, Fishing 'Zander' -- subject(s): Zander fishing, Stizostedion, Zander 'Bendigonian graptolites (Hemichordata) of Victoria' -- subject(s): graptolites, taxonomy, systematics, biostratigraphy 'The Pike Angler's Manual' 'Plugs and plug fishing' -- subject(s): Plug fishing, Fishing plugs
Graptolites first appeared in the Cambrian Period, 545-490 million years ago (mya), and evolved rapidly during the following Ordovician Period (490-434 mya) when the greatest variety of different forms lived. They suffered a major decline in the Silurian (434-410 mya) and only a few forms lasted into the Devonian. They finally became extinct during the Carboniferous Period, about 315 my ago.