Fossils we Found in Cork City

1. Belemnites: These are a group of extinct creatures related to the squid. They were abundant from the Triassic to the Cretacious period. They had a strong internal support structure made of calcium carbonate and this is what remains as fossils today.

2. Colonial Corals: Corals are marine animals with a sac-like body called polyps, a mouth, tentacles and skeleton. The polyps can divide to form colonies of coral . They have existed since the Cambrian period, 535 million years ago.

3. Brachiopods: Although living species are now rare, brachiopods are common fossils. They have a bivalve shell - the valves are hinged at the rear end while the front can be opened for feeding or closed for protection.

4. Crinoids: These have existed since at least the Ordovician period, 480 million years ago. The are popularly known as Sea Lillies and Feather Stars. Their massive calcite skeleton is what has been fossilised.

5. Ammonites: These were abundant during the Mesozoic era. They had a coiled eternal shell similar to that of the modern Nautilus. In other living Cephalopods eg. octopus, squid and cuttlefish, the shells are small and internall, or absent. The fossils we see are of this shell.

6. Olivellites: These are trace fossils or tracks of creatures like sea snails. They are commonly found in The Burren in Co. Clare. Olivellites are also called Scolicia.