Lab 9: Post-Paleozoic life, the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras

In the previous lab, we explored the change from the Paleozoic evolutionary fauna to the Modern fauna,
the group of animals that have dominated the oceans from the early Mesozoic era to today. Many of
these sea creatures will seem familiar if you go to the beach or eat seafood. This makes them easy to
study. Their fossil record tells us a lot about the future survival of modern ecosystems such as coral reefs
and oyster beds.

Begin by reading the introduction to lab 12 in your lab manual. You may also find the appendix useful.
However, instead of the questions in the lab manual, we will use online resources to observe fossils that
we cannot see in person.

Part I. Invertebrates

Of the invertebrates, we will focus on the most dominant animal phylum in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic
fossil record, the Mollusca (mollusks). This group includes clams, snails, squids, and octopuses. More
fossil species of mollusks are known than any other phylum. Open the website linked below:

https://www.digitalatlasofancientlife.org/learn/

Locate Phylum Mollusca in the table of contents, then select Class Cephalopoda. Modern squids and
octopuses rarely fossilize because they usually lack a shell. The extinct ammonoids, on the other hand,
are common fossils equally beloved as index fossils and for their natural beauty.

1. Click on “2.3 Ammonoidea.” Why do paleontologists find it so important to study the shape of
an ammonoid’s sutures?
Since they are very diagnostic and often can allow specimens to
be identified to the species level, even for those ammonoids
without external shells.
2. Compare the shapes of goniatitic, ceratitic, and ammonitic sutures. Then, scroll down to near
the bottom of the page and examine the straight-shelled ammonoid Baculites. Which of the
three suture types does Baculites have?
ammonitic
Return to the original table of contents and choose the mollusk Class Bivalvia. This class includes some
of the most commonly seen shells in the modern ocean.

3. Observe the names of some of the common types of bivalves in the modern world. Are you
familiar with any of these? If so, where have you seen them?
Chesapeake Bay

1. Review the anatomy of Mercenaria mercenaria in the 3D model. Then, compare the symmetry
of this shell to the symmetry of a brachiopod, as you saw in lab 7. How is the symmetry of a
bivalve different from that of a brachiopod? (This is a good way to tell them apart!)
Mercenaria mercenaria (bivalve) shell has bilateral symmetry, while
the brachiopod shell has radial symmetry.
2. Follow the table of contents for bivalves to “Evolutionary History of Bivalves.” Locate the coiled
oyster Gryphaea arcuata. Does it match the usual symmetry for bivalves?
NO
Explain why or why not.
The upper body of the oyster species is more coiled than the lower
part of the body. It is asymmetrical. Bivalves are known to have
bilateral symmetry.
3. Follow the table of contents for bivalves to “Bivalve Phylogeny and Classification.” Locate the
shipworm Teredo. This unusual bivalve mostly eats driftwood and is destructive to wooden
ships. Shipworm fossils are rare, but they are known from many sites across Alabama. Are the
fossil Teredolites shown on the website body fossils or trace fossils?
Trace fossils
Although the rise of the Modern fauna is linked to the Permian – Triassic mass extinction, it may have
been helped along by the evolution of new predatory animals, an event known as the Mesozoic Marine
Revolution. These predators used new strategies such as shell crushing and drilling. Trace fossils of these
behaviors can be used to study how predation has evolved over time. To see examples of shell drilling,
return to the main table of contents. Select “Paleoecology,” “3.2 Drilling predation in the fossil record.”

4. Read the section, “Who made the drill hole?” Observe the drilled shell of the muricid snail
Eupleura in the photograph. What type of gastropod (snail) ate this Eupleura, a naticid or
another muricid?
naticid
How can you tell?
Muricid drill holes tend to be straight-sided whereas naticid drill
holes have beveled sides.
Part II. Vertebrates

In addition to the Modern fauna in the ocean, the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras have many important
vertebrate groups. Let’s look at examples of the reptiles, which were very successful during the
Mesozoic Era, and the mammals, which are dominant today.

Follow this link to view 3D models of vertebrate fossils.

https://umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu/wp/vertebrate-2/

Select the Reptilia, then scroll near the bottom to find the 3D model of the whole skeleton of Allosaurus
fragilis. Although the posture of this museum mount is out of date, it still shows the skeleton of a large
predatory dinosaur very well.

5. Dinosaurs were traditionally split into two groups based on the shape of their pelvis (hip bones).
Based on the diagram below, which group does Allosaurus belong to, the saurischians or the
ornithischians?
saurischians
Under the Mammals and relatives, locate the Proboscidea, family Mammutidae. Select the 3D model of
the Buesching mastodon at the top of the page. (If you have 3D glasses lying around, you can try out
Anaglyph mode for a true 3D experience!)

6. Almost all mammals have the same number of vertebrae (back bones) in their necks. How many
neck (or cervical) vertebrae does this mastodon have? You can hold your mouse/cursor over
each bone to see the name pop up.
Seven
All of these digital models show you the outside of a fossil. Until recently, it was impossible to see inside
a fossil without breaking or cutting it open. Today, high-powered x-rays are used to see even very small
details inside the fossil. For the following questions, we will use x-rays of vertebrate skulls to examine
how brain size differs from one group to another. Follow the link below.

http://digimorph.org/navlist.phtml?list=short

7. Let’s start with a typical reptile. Select “Alligators and Crocodiles.” Locate the species Caiman
crocodilus, then choose the Sagittal slice movie at the upper right. This will show you the inside
of the skull. Pause the movie at 10 seconds. The brain space is in black on the right, the part
surrounded by bone (white) that opens out to the right side. About how much of the skull is
taken up by brain? (You can make a rough estimate, like one half, one quarter, one tenth, etc.)
One half
8. Mammals are known for having large brains compared to most other vertebrate groups. Return
to the main menu of the website and select “Mammals and Their Extinct Relatives.” Click on
the skull of the Common Chimpanzee, Pan troglodytes. View the sagittal slice movie, pausing at
14 seconds. The brain space is in black at the upper right, almost completely surrounded by
bone. About how much of the skull is taken up by the brain?
9/10 th

9. “Bird-brained” is an old slang term meaning not very smart. Let’s look at the size of an actual
bird’s brain. On the main menu, select “Birds,” then choose the Golden-Winged Parakeet head
(Brotogeris chrysopterus). As before, watch the sagittal slice movie, stopping at about 18
seconds. How does the brain size as a fraction of the skull compare to the caiman and the
chimpanzee?
It is the smallest. (1/10)