Paleontology in Missouri refers to paleontological research occurring within or conducted by people from the U.S. state of Missouri. The geologic column of Missouri spans all of geologic history from the Precambrian to present with the exception of the Permian, Triassic, and Jurassic.[1] Brachiopods are probably the most common fossils in Missouri.[2]
During the early Paleozoic, Missouri was covered by a warm shallow sea that would come to be home to creatures like Archimedes, brachiopods, shelled cephalopods, conodonts, corals, crinoids, armored fishes, and trilobites. During the Carboniferous a rich flora developed on land. Primitive tetrapods left behind footprints that would later fossilize. By the end of that period the sea had disappeared from the state. The Permian, Triassic, and Jurassic are missing from the local rock record. At that time southeastern Missouri was covered in seawater. On land, the state was home to dinosaurs. Missouri remained partially covered by seawater into the early Cenozoic while a great diversity of trees grew on land.[3]
During the Ice Age the northern part of the state was covered in glaciers while the southern half was home to creatures like camels, mammoths, and mastodons. The state's mastodons are among the most prominent of its Ice Age mammal fauna.[3]
The Pennsylvanian sea lily, Delocrinus missouriensis, is the Missouri state fossil.[4] Hypsibema missouriensis is the state dinosaur.[5]
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missouri-paleoportal-generalwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Office of the Missouri Sectary of State "State Fossil". Accessed: December 27th, 2012
- ^ Office of the Missouri Sectary of State "State Dinosaur". Accessed: December 27th, 2012