Colonies of white fossil graptolites,Didymograptus murchisoni,on black shale. Graptolites were colonial animals which lived in abundance in Palaeozoic seas. A 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 "rock writing" - appropriate because of their resemblance to pencil scribble. They originate from the Ordovician Period,approximately 470 million years ago | |
Licence : | Droits gérés |
Crédit: | Science Photo Library / Land, Martin |
Taille de l’image : | 4961 px × 3310 px |
Model Release : | Non requis |
Property Release : | Non requis |
Restrictions : | - |