Invertebrate Paleontology

The Invertebrate Fossil Exhibit is comprised of a small number of exquisitely preserved organisms from around the world and from South Dakota.

Six wall cases featuring Paleozoic (2), Mesozoic, and Cenozoic invertebrates are enhanced by a case describing the fossilization process and featuring beautifully preserved Cretaceous invertebrates. Among the exhibited invertebrates are trilobites, echinoids, crinoids, crabs, and numerous other fossil invertebrates.

One of the features of this small invertebrate collection is a slab of free-swimming crinoids from the Cretaceous of Kansas. A plaque of these beautiful crinoids, Unitacrinus socialis (SDSMT #415), collected from the Sternberg Qually in the Niobrara Chalk presents the opportunity to closely examine these interesing nektonic echinoderms.

Scattered throughout the exhibit collection are numerous examples of ichnofossils (trace fossils) including trilobite crawlways, star-shaped cephalopd resting traces, corn-cob shaped burrows of Ghost Shrimp and numerous other trace fossils.