2023-24 Archimedean Satellite Invitational
Fossils Test
FOSSILS PLACEMENT TEST 2023-2024
Station 1
1. What genus of organism does this bone structure belong to?
2. What geological epoch did this organism live in?
3. List the continent where the majority of the fossils of this organism have been found.
4. Where and when was the first fossil of this specimen found?
5. What is the most common theory of extinction for this specimen?
6. With what other type of animal were members of this species in convergent evolution
with?
Station 2
Identify the specimens a-d:
A
B
a.
b.
c.
d.
Station 3
1. Identify the genus of the organism pictured.
2. Name the class that this organism belongs to.
3. What does the name of this organism mean?
4. During which period did this organism exist?
5. In which countries can fossils of this organism like the one pictured be found?
6. True or False: This organism has vision.
Station 4
1. Identify the Genus of this fossil.
2. About how long are the teeth on this organism?
3. True or false: the anterior portion of the lower jaw on this skull is thicker than the
posterior portion.
4. Where may individuals of this genus have prospered?
5. Around what time period would they have prospered there?
6. Name a key predatory advantage of members of this genus, other than their teeth. Also
describe why it is advantageous.
Station 5
Label the graph from a-t.
Station 6: Trivia
1. What was the largest diversification and evolution of animal life in Earth’s history?
2. What type of fossils is the Yixian formation known for? (name 4)
3. Which type of fossils is the Burgess Shale known for? (name at least 3)
4. What type of fossils are LaBrea Tar Pits known for? (name at least 3)
5. What type of fossils is Mazon Creek known for? (name at least 3)
6. What was the father-son pair who proposed the most widely accepted theory for
dinosaur extinction?
7. What is asteroid theory?
8. What observations led to the formation of asteroid theory?
9. Where was the crater from the asteroid in asteroid theory located? What is the name of
the crater?
10. What was a significant discovery from the Solnhofen Limestone site?
Station 7:
1. What is the Genus of this fossil?
2. Who was this fossil named after?
3. What percent of these fossils have more than a quarter of their skeleton preserved?
4. True/False This fossil was a herbivore.
5. True/False This fossil had strong jaw movements that it used in feeding.
6. True/False This fossil was not an aggressive animal.
Use the following specimen for questions 7-11.
7. Identify this organism (it is 1mm in diameter).
8. The shell of this organism is made of?
9. How do these one-celled organisms feed?
10. Describe the biological and geological importance of these organisms.
11. Would this organism survive the carbonate compensation depth (CCD) at 4,000 to 5,000
m? Explain.
Use the following specimen for questions 1-5.
12. Fill in the blank. In Astraeospongia the ________ of the sponge are often preserved in
the fossil record.
13. Fill in the blank. ________ can be made of _______ or calcium carbonate.
14. Fill in the blank. Sponges are _______ feeders and provide homes for many organisms.
15. Fill in the blank. Sponges are an important part of the reef community, but they were
important reef-building organisms during the _______ period along with bryozoans.
16. Fill in the blank. The boring sponge ________ is important in the degradation and
breakup of shells and coral reefs.
Use the following specimen for questions 17-19.
17. What is the genus of this specimen?
18. What can the presence of this organism tell you about the age of the deposit in which it
is found?
19. What part of the organism does this fossil represent?
Use the following images to answer questions 20-22.
20. Which period did the organisms live in?
21. Which two are most closely related to birds?
22. Which is Colorado's state fossil?