Colonies of white fossil graptolites,Didymograptus murchisoni (Beck),on black shale. Graptolites were colonial animals that lived in abundance in Palaeozoic seas. A graptolite colony consists of one or more branches along which are arranged cup-like thecae,each of which originally housed a single animal. The slanting arrangement of the thecae causes the saw-blade appearance of the colony. Members of the genus Didymograptus are called "tuning-fork" graptolites because of their shape. Graptolite means "stone writing" - appropriate because of their resemblance to pencil scribble. Age: Ordovician,470 million years ago,found in Abereiddy Bay,Dyfed,Wales | |
Licence : | Droits gérés |
Crédit: | Science Photo Library / Land, Martin |
Taille de l’image : | 3837 px × 2480 px |
Model Release : | Non requis |
Property Release : | Non requis |
Restrictions : | - |