PALEONTOLOGY: A PRACTICAL MANUAL

Introduction
Microfossils Separation Methodology
Methodology for Microfossil Separation
Paleontology Field Sample Equipments and Tools
Description of Fossil Specimen
Format for Describing an Invertebrate Fossil Specimen
Binomial Nomenclature
Phylum Coelenterata
Introduction to Phylum Coelenterata and Class Anthozoa
Calceola
Calceola Sandalina
Montlivaltia
Zaphrentis
Cystiphyllum
Kanophyllum
Thecosmelia
Halysites
Hexagonella
Stylina
Isastraea
Favosites
Lithostrotion
Phylum Brachiopoda
Introduction to Phylum Brachiopoda, Class Articulata and Class Inarticulata
Terebratula
Leptaena
Productus
Rhynchonella
Chonetes
Atrypa
Steringocephalus
Lingula
Lingulella
Phylum Mollusca
Introduction to Phylum Mollusca
Introduction to Class Cephalopoda (Lamellibranch)
Suture Evolution Pattern in Class Cephalopoda
Coiling Types in Class Cephalopoda
Coiling Evolution Pattern in Class Cephelapoda
Goniotite
Nautilus
Parkinsonia
Baculities
Acanthoscaphites
Orthoceras
Ceratite
Arietes
Terulites
Introduction to Gastropoda
Nautica
Cerithium
Conus
Trochus
Voluta
Turritella
Physa
Introduction to Class Pelecypoda
Types of Dentitions and Dental Formula in Pelecypoda
Exogyra
Pecten
Mytilus
Lima
Cardita
Gryphaea
Hyppurites
Alectryonia
Trigonia
Pholodomya
Phylum Arthropoda
Introduction to Phylum Arthropoda, Class Trilobita
Alectryonia
Trinucleus
Phacops
Calymne
Olenus
Exercises
Exercise on Evolutionary Pattern Studies in Glabellar Segments
Phylum Echinodermata
Introduction to Echinodermata (Echinoderma)
Cidaris
Micraster
Encrinus
Introduction to Graptozoa
Monograptus
Diplograptus
Microfossil Groups
Introduction to Microfossils
Introduction to Group Acritarchs
Archaeohystrichosphaeridium pentagonium
Baltisphaeridium sp.
Micrhystridium sp.
Leiofusa
Oodium sp.
Veryhachium sp.
Symplassosphaeridium sp.
Synsphaeridium sp.
Kildinella sp.
Tasmanites sp.
Heliconema sp.
Paleoannacystis sp.
Other Organic Remains
Introduction to Chitinozoa
Conochitina sp.
Conochitina symmetrica
Conochitina sp1.
Conochitina sp2.
Desmochitina sp.
Desmochitina minor
Introduction to Group Conodont
Paltodus utahensis
Furnishina furnishi
Fryxellodontus inornadus
Proconoduntus sp
Introduction to Group Foraminifera
Globigerinoides
Globigerina
Globotruncana
Textularia
Textulariella
Lenticulina
Cibicides
Ammonia
Pyrgo
Lagena
Martinottiella
Orbulina
Nodosaria
Dentalina
Quinqueloculina
Triloculina
Rhabdammina
Siderolites
Spiroloculina
Introduction to Phylum Crustacea, Class Ostracoda
Cytherella sp.
Bairdopptilata sp.
Neonesidea sp.
Triebelina sp.
Cypredis sp.
Actinocytheris sp.
Introduction to Palynofossils
Parasaccites
Callumispora
Callumispora gretensis
Leiosphaerida
Parasaccites korabensis
Playforidiaspora
Stroterosporites
Cresentipollenites
Rhizomospora
Lophopriletes
Microbaculispora
Microfoveolatispora
Practicals on Paleobotany
Introduction to Plant Fossils
Petrified Wood Formation Process in Stages
Gangamoptries
Glossoptries
Picopteries
Calamites
Lepidodentron
Sigillaria
Ptilophyllum
Dicodium
Microfossils and Fossil Applications in Biostratigraphy Boundary Markings
Introduction to Problems on Biostratigraphy
Solved Problem on Biostratigraphy by using Foraminifera and Palyno fossils
Exercise Problems on Biostratigraphic Boundary by using Foraminifera Data
Introduction to Problem on Paleoecology
Paleoecological Interpretation through Foraminifera
Identification of Maturation of Sediments through Colour Matching of Microfossils by Correlation with Staplin’s and Russian’s Scale
Exercise on Interpretation of Paleoclimatic Conditions to Decipher by using Palynomorphological Character
Problems on Paleoclimatic Conditions of Deposition by Using Polynomorphic Characters
Interpretation in Palynological Technique in Characterisation of Dispersed Palynodebris
Exercise Problems on Demarcating of Stratigraphic Boundary by using Foraminifera Data
Exercise Problem on Palynobiostratigraphy
Problems on Organic Matter Estimation
Problem for Class Work Exercise
Reconstruction of Floral Habitat by using Fossil Structure Remains
Software for Biostratigraphic Studies
Objective Questions in Palaeontology
Reference Books for Further Studies

Paleontology is an important branch of Geology which deals with past life of the earth from the ancient time. There are several branches emerged from time to time for the need of understanding the earth. Nowadays, Paleontology part in academic syllabi is shortening because specialized teachers are not available to decipher the knowledge of Paleontology to students. This manual will help students and as well as teachers who can refer the manual for descriptive invertebrate fossils, plant fossils, microfossils explained with supportive simple hand sketches, and some applications of microfossils in solving organic sediments estimation, maturation of microfossils through Staplin scale and Biostratigraphic boundary markings. Solved problems are given to complement the text part and some exercises are provided also. Small objective questions like match the following will help the students to check their knowledge.

This book will certainly help all levels of Earth Science students, research scholars and teachers. This book will certainly navigate at present to pursue their studies in current trend of Paleontological studies.

Author
Dr. L. Mahesh Bilwa is Professor, Department of Studies in Earth Science, University of Mysore, Mysore, India.