Missouri

__**Missouri**__ ===State Fossil: C**rinoid ** ===
 * Binomial Nomenclature: **//Delocrinus missouriensis //

Description:
The crinoid, has a plant-like appearance and is nicknamed the "sea lily". Related to the starfish and sand dollar, the crinoid lived in the ocean that once covered Missouri. There are about 600 species alive in the ocean today. In crinoids, the small ossicles usually disarticulate when the animal dies, and complete fossils are rare, whereas the ossicles themselves are abundant and widely collected.

**Picture:**
**FOSSILS (1ST, 2ND PICTURES)**
 * CRINOIDS TODAY**

**Time Existed:**

This specific species of crinoid lived about 300 million years ago, during the Pennsylvanian Period. During this period the widespread swamps laid down the think beds of dead plant material that today consists of most of the world's coal.

Preservation:
Crinoid's lived on the ocean floor millions of years ago as well as today. When they died, their bodies were quickly buried under multiple layers of sediments, causing a greater chance of being fossilized.

Why is it the state fossil?
The crinoid, ( //Delocrinus missouriensis // ) became Missouri's official state fossil on June 16, 1989, after a group of Lee's Summit school students worked through the legislative process to promote it as a state symbol.

**__ Sources: __**
// Missouri state fossil //. (2004-2011). Retrieved from http://www.e-referencedesk.com/resources/state-fossil/missouri.html

Created By: David Lichomski

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