What Index Fossils Have Been Found in Ordovician Age Bedrock?

The Ordovician Age began around 485 million years ago and lasted until 443 million years ago. During this time, various fossils were formed and many of them are now considered index fossils. An index fossil is a fossil that can be used to identify the age of a rock formation. Index fossils are typically used to find out which geological period the rock formation belongs to.

The most common index fossils found in Ordovician age rock formations are brachiopods, cephalopods, trilobites, and corals. Brachiopods are shell-like creatures that have two symmetrical valves. Cephalopods are mollusks, such as ammonites and nautiloids, that have a head and tentacles. Trilobites are a type of arthropod that lived in the ancient seas. Corals are skeletal remains of marine invertebrates that were abundant in the Ordovician seas.

Other types of fossils that are often found in Ordovician rock formations include bryozoans, graptolites, echinoderms, and gastropods. Bryozoans are small animals that form colonies, while graptolites are colonial animals that lived in the ancient seas. Echinoderms are marine invertebrates that have a spiny skeleton and include starfish and sea urchins. Gastropods are mollusks with a single, coiled shell. These are all important index fossils for the Ordovician age.

In addition to these index fossils, Ordovician rock formations contain plant fossils, such as the remains of ferns and algae. These fossils are important for understanding the environment of the Ordovician period. The presence of these fossils in a rock formation indicates that the environment was in the process of transitioning from marine to terrestrial.



The Ordovician Age was an important period in the Earth’s history and the index fossils found in its rock formations can be used to identify its age. Common index fossils found in Ordovician age rock formations include brachiopods, cephalopods, trilobites, corals, bryozoans, graptolites, echinoderms, and gastropods. Plant fossils, such as ferns and algae, are also found in Ordovician rock formations, providing insight into the environment of the period.