View source for Taxonomy of commonly fossilised invertebrates

{{multiple issues|{{tone|date=July 2023}}
{{more citations needed|date=July 2023}}}}

[[File:GraptoliteEchinosphaerites.jpg|thumb|The [[Ordovician]] [[cystoid]] ''[[Echinosphaerites]]'' (an extinct [[echinoderm]] of the Class Rhombifera) from northeastern [[Estonia]]; encrusted by a [[graptolite]] (black branches).]]
The [[Taxonomy (biology)|taxonomy]] of commonly fossilized [[Invertebrate|invertebrates]] combines both traditional and modern [[Paleozoology|paleozoological]] [[Scientific classification|terminology]]. This article compiles various invertebrate [[Taxon|taxa]] in the [[fossil record]], ranging from [[Protists in the fossil record|protists]] to [[Arthropod|arthropods]]. This includes groups that are significant in paleontological contexts, abundant in the [[fossil record]], or have a high proportion of [[Lists of extinct species|extinct species]]. Special notations are explained below:

* [ ! ]: Indicates [[Clade|clades]] that are important as fossils or abundant in the fossil record.
* [ – ]: Indicates clades that contain a large proportion of extinct species.
* [ † ]: Indicates completely extinct clades.

The [[paleobiology|paleobiologic]] [[systematics]] that follow are ''not'' intended to be comprehensive, rather, they are designed to encompass invertebrates that (a) are popularly collected as fossils and (b) extinct. As a result, some groups of invertebrates are not listed.<ref>For superb anatomical illustrations and much-more comprehensive information, see ''Volume E'' (''Archaeocyatha'' / ''Porifera'') through ''Volume V'' (''Graptolithina''), published 1953 to 2006 (and continuing), of ''the [[Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology]]'', long-edited by [[Raymond C. Moore]] and [[Roger L. Kaesler]] (Boulder, Colorado: [[Geological Society of America]]; and Lawrence, Kansas: [[University Press of Kansas|University of Kansas Press]]). But be warned that some terms therein employed – such as [[Supersubphylum (biology)|supersubphylum]] – can be unnecessarily wordy or abstruse. Incidentally, ''revised'' volumes have been recently published regarding the sponges/archaeocyatha (2004, {{ISBN|0-8137-3131-3}}) and the brachiopods (2006, {{ISBN|0-8137-3135-6}}).</ref>

If an invertebrate animal is mentioned below using its common (vernacular) name, it is an extant (living) taxon, but if it is cited by its scientific genus, then it is typically an [[extinct]] invertebrate known only from the fossil record.<ref>The names of genera, orders, classes and phyla have been culled from dozens of sources, both current and decades-old. See the [[International Code of Zoological Nomenclature]] (ICZN), as well as ''Volume 1'' and ''Volume 2'' of ''[[Bernhard Grzimek|Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia]]'' (Farmington Hills, Michigan: [[Gale Group]]), edited by [[zoologist]]s Michael Hutchin, Dennis A. Thorney and Sean F. Craig (2003).</ref>

Invertebrate clades that are important fossils (e.g. [[ostracod]]s, frequently used as [[index fossil]]s), and clades that are very abundant as fossils (e.g. [[crinoid]]s, easily found in crinoidal [[limestone]]),<ref>For correspondingly ancient [[Ecosystem|ecosystems]], see the ''[[Treatise on Ecology and Paleoecology]]'', ''Volume 2: Paleoecology'', edited for years by [[Harry S. Ladd]] (1957 / 1971), and published by both the Geological Society of America (Boulder, Colorado) and the [[Waverly Press]] (Washington, D.C.).</ref> are highlighted with a bracketed exclamation mark '''[ ! ]'''.

==Domain of Eukaryota/Eukarya==
[[File:QuinqueloculinaDonegalBay.jpg|thumb|''Quinqueloculina'', a foraminiferan (a type of protist) from Donegal Bay, Ireland.]]
[[Eukaryote|Eukaryotes]] are [[Cell (biology)|cellular]] [[organism]]s bearing a central, [[Nucleus (biology)|organized nucleus]] with [[DNA]].

*most species documented by [[biologist]]s and [[paleontologist|palaeontologist]]s, extinct or [[wiktionary:extant|extant]], are eukaryotic. 
*includes: a wide variety of [[Unicellular|single-celled]] [[protist]]s; all [[algae]]; most [[plankton]]; most [[Mold (fungus)|mold]]s; [[Embryophyta|green plants]]; and all animal-related kingdoms.
**does not include the [[basal (biology)|primal]], sub-[[nucleus (biology)|nuclear]], [[prokaryotic]] domains of [[Archaea]] and [[Bacteria]] – nor the enigmatic domain of [[Virus]]es.

===Sub-domain of [[Opisthokonta]]===
[[Opisthokonts]]; the animal-related kingdoms. These include proto-spongal [[choanoflagellate]]s; proto-fungal [[microsporidian]]s; and true [[fungi]]; true animals.

*most life forms documented, extinct or extant.
**excludes: many molds; all one-celled protists ([[protoctist]]s); all algae; all green plants.

==Kingdom of [[Animal]]ia / [[Metazoa]] - All Invertebrates and Vertebrates==
[[Metazoan]]s are multicellular "true" [[animal]]s (multicellular creatures that capture and [[ingest]] their [[organic material|organic]] [[food]]).

*comprises most living and deceased species which have ever been recorded, extinct or extant.
**excludes all [[unicellular]] and [[fungal]] opisthokonts.

==Sub-kingdom of [[Parazoa]]==
Parazoans are typically [[Sessility (zoology)|sessile]], [[basal (phylogenetics)|basal]] non-[[eumetazoa]]ns. They are the most [[Primitive (biology)|primitive]] animals, comprising simple, [[colony (biology)|colonial]], [[Sessility (zoology)|attached]], [[benthic|bottom-dwelling]] [[marine invertebrate]]s.

===Phylum [[Archaeocyatha]]/[[Archeocyatha]]/Archaeocyathida/[[Archeocyathida]]/Pleospongia [†]===
Cone-shaped [[archaeocyathid]]s/[[archeocyathid]]s; cup-shaped archaeocyathans/archeocyathans; [[reef]]-building pleosponges; [[calcareous]] "ancient-cups".

Includes fossil [[genus (biology)|genera]] such as ''Archaeocyathus'', ''Cambrocyathus'', ''Atikonia'',
''Tumuliolynthus'', ''Kotuyicyathus'', ''Metaldetes'', ''Ajacicyathus'' and ''Paranacyathus.''

Archaeocyatha is sometimes classified as a [[class (biology)|class]] of [[Porifera]] below.
<!-- Hidden comment: I personally welcome any corrections, deletions, revisions, or additions to any of the listed scientific genera. However, I do ASK that you not make a change in a genus unless you KNOW that Ph.D.'s, museums, professors, etc. have used your favored term since the year 2000. Popular sources are usually OUT-DATED. -->

===Phylum [[Porifera]]/[[Nuda]]/[[Spongia]]===
[[File:Pattersonia ulrichi Rauff, 1894.JPG|thumb|''Pattersonia ulrichi'' Rauff, 1894; an Ordovician hexactinellid sponge near Cincinnati, Ohio.]]
[[File:Tetractinella trigonella - MUSE.jpg|thumb|''[[Tetractinella trigonella]]'' at [[MUSE - Science Museum]] in [[Trento]]]]
Quintessential [[sea sponge|true sponges]]; marine, colonial, [[Lateral line|pore]]-bearing animals; organized [[Choanoflagellate|collar-flagellates]]; [[poriferan]]s - today mostly [[siliceous]] – half of all documented species of Porifera are fossils and extinct.<ref>The rates of extinction for sponges and other phyla are derived from W. H. Easton, 1960, ''Invertebrate Paleontology'' (New York: Harper and Brothers) and various modern sources.</ref>

Porifera may eventually be broken up into separate [[Phylum|phyla]]:
*Sub-phylum [[Calcarea]]/[[Calcispongiae]] (primitive [[Calcium carbonate|calcareous]] poriferans such as yellow lemon sponge, sphinctozoans, pharetronids, ''Scypha'', ''Leucetta'', ''Gravestockia'', ''Grantia'', ''Astraeospongium'', ''Clathrina'', ''Lelapia'', ''Rhaphidonema'', and ''Girtyocoelia'').
**Class [[Calcinea]]
**Class [[Calcaronea]]
**Class [[Stromatoporoidea]]/Stromatoporata/Stromatoporida/Spongliomorphida [†] ([[Lime (mineral)|lime]]-layered [[stromatoporoid|stromatoporoid']]s/reef-building stromatoporates/button-shaped stromatoporid/disc-shaped spongliomorphids; e.g., ''Stromatopora, Aulacera, Stromatactis, Actinostroma, Discophyllum, Parallelopora'' and ''Amphipora'')
**Class [[Heteractinida]] [†] (Paleozoic [[Calcite|calcitic]] heteractinids such as ''Eiffelia'')
*Sub-phylum [[Silicea]] / Silicospongia ([[siliceous]] poriferans):
**Class [[Demospongea]]/[[Demospongiae]] (most living sponges hardened by [[opaline]] [[silica]] or [[spongin]]; for instance, [[horny sponge]], [[sea sponge|bath sponge]], [[stove-pipe sponge]], yellow [[boring sponge]], [[carnivorous sponge]], bristle sponge, chaetids, lithistids, ''Astroclera, Ceractinomorpha, Clionoides, Hindia, Ventriculites, Laosoiadia, Clionolithes, Tetractinella'', and ''Astylospongia'')
**Class [[Hexactinellida]]/[[Hyalospongiae]]/[[Sclerospongiae]] (siliceous, deep-sea [[glass sponge]]s, e.g. glassy-latticed [[Venus flower basket]], bird's nest sponge, [[cloud sponge]], ''Hexactinella'', ''Hydroceras'', ''Dictyonina'', ''Brachiospongia'', ''Titusvillea'', and ''Rhizopoterion'')

==Sub-kingdom of [[Eumetazoa]]==
[[Eumetazoan]]s; true metazoans (typically mobile, multicellular animals).

Eumetazoa contains most of the living and deceased species of recorded life, including most invertebrates (extinct and extant), as well as all vertebrate animals.

==Super-phylum of [[Radiata]]==
Radiates; non-[[bilateria]]n [[eumetazoa]]ns.

===Phylum [[Cnidaria]]/[[Coelenterata]]===
[[File:AuloporaDevonianSilicaShale.jpg|thumb|''Aulopora'' (a tabulate coral) from the Silica Shale (Middle Devonian), northwestern Ohio.]]
[[Cnidarian]]s/[[coelenterate]]s:

*Class [[Hydrozoa]] ([[Hydra (genus)|hydra]] or [[hydroid (zoology)|hydroid]] group):
**Subclass [[Stromatoporoidea]] [†] (lime-layered [[stromatoporoid]]s)
**Subclass [[Conulata]] [†] (four-sided, pyramidal conularians)
*Class [[Anthozoa]] ([[coral]]s/[[polyp (zoology)|polyp]]s):
**Subclass [[Octocorallia]] / [[Alcyonaria]] ([[soft coral]]s and [[sea pen]]s)
**Subclass [[Zoantharia]] [!] ([[sea anemone]]s and most [[Extant taxon|extant]] [[coral]]s)
***Order [[Rugosa]] / [[Tetracoralla]] [†] [!] (wrinkled, [[horn coral|horn-shaped tetracorals]] such as [[Petoskey stone|Petoskey coral]], ''Caninia'' and ''Heliophyllum'')
***Order [[Tabulata]] / Schizocoralla [†] [!] ([[tabulate coral]]s, for instance, ''[[Favosites]]'' and ''[[Aulopora]]'')
***Order [[Scleractinia]] / Hexacoralla [!] ([[stony coral]]s such as [[brain coral]], ''Favia'', ''Meandrina'', and most [[Extant taxon|living]] [[coral]]s)

==Super-phylum of [[Lophotrochozoa]] / [[Protostomia]] # 1==
[[Lophotrochozoa]]n [[bilateria]]ns, such as [[flatworm]]s, [[ribbon worm]]s, [[lophophorate]]s, and [[mollusc]]s.

===Phylum [[Bryozoa]]/Ectoprocta/Polyzoa===
[[File:Heterotrypa Corryville.JPG|thumb|''Heterotrypa'', a trepostome bryozoan from the Corryville Formation (Upper Ordovician) in Covington, Kentucky.]]
Bryozoans – half of all documented species of Bryozoa are fossils and extinct.<ref>For bryozoans and brachiopods, the same footnote as above.</ref>
*Class [[Stenolaemata]] / [[Gymnolaemata]] [!] (mostly [[Marine (ocean)|marine]], [[calcareous]] [[bryozoan]]s):
**Order [[Cheilostomata]] [!] (living, rimmed-mouthed moss animals)
**Order [[Cyclostomatida]] (uncontracted, round-mouthed bryozoans including fossil ''Stomatopora'')
**Order Cystoporata [†] (extinct, minor group of moss animals)
**Order [[Trepostomata]] [†] [!] (changed-mouthed bryozoans such as extinct ''Constellaria'' and ''Monticulipora'')
**Order [[Cryptostomata]] [†] [!] (round hidden-mouthed bryozoans such as ''Archimedes'', ''Fenestrellina'' and ''Rhombopora'')
**Order Ctenostomata [†] (uncommon, comb-mouthed bryozoans)
**Order Phylactolaemata (living, fresh-water bryozoans)

===Phylum [[Brachiopoda]]===
[[File:Rhynchotremadentatum.jpg|thumb|''Rhynchotrema dentatum'', a rhynchonellid brachiopod from the Cincinnatian (Upper [[Ordovician]]) of southeastern Indiana.]]
[[Lampshell]]s, brachiopods or "[[brachiopod|brachs]]," (not to be confused with the [[Exoskeleton|hard-shelled]] [[Marine (ocean)|marine]] [[mollusk]]s below) – 99% of all documented species of Brachiopoda are now extinct.

*Subphylum [[Linguliformea]] ([[Inarticulata|inarticulate]] atremates, such as "[[living fossil]]" ''[[Lingula (genus)|Lingula]]'') – but mostly extinct.
*Subphylum [[Craniiformea]] ([[Inarticulata|inarticulate]] neotremates, such as extant ''[[Crania (genus)|Crania]]'') – but mostly extinct.
*Subphylum [[Rhynchonelliformea]] [!] ([[Articulata (Brachiopoda)|articulate]] [[brachiopod]]s with hinged valves; includes most extinct and living brachs).
**Class [[Rhynchonellata]] [!]
***Order [[Orthida]] [†] [!] ([[Orthida|orthid]] brachs such as fossil ''Orthis'')
***Order [[Pentamerida]] [†] (pentamerid brachs such as ''Conchidium'')
***Order [[Rhynchonellida]] [!] ([[Rhynchonellida|rhynchonellid]] brachs such as fossils ''Rhynchotrema'' and ''Rhynchonella'')
***Order [[Spiriferida]] [†] [!] ([[Spiriferida|spiriferid]] brachs)
****Suborder Spiriferinida [†] [!] (spiriferid brachs such as ''Spirifer'' and ''Eospirifer'')
****Suborder Atrypida [†] [!] (atrypid brachs such as ''Atrypa'')
***Order [[Terebratulida]] [!] (most living brachiopods; includes fossil ''Dielasma'')
**Class [[Strophomenata]] [†] [!] (so-called petrified butterflies)
***Order [[Strophomenida]] [†] [!] (strophomenid brachs)
***Order [[Productida]] [†] [!] (spiny or productid brachs)
****Suborder [[Chonetidina]] [†] [!]
****Suborder [[Productidina]] [†] [!]

===Phylum [[Annelida]]===
[[Segmented worm]]s such as [[earthworm]]s and [[leech]]es.

*Class [[Polychaeta]] ([[Marine (ocean)|marine]] annelids / [[polychaete]]s)
**Order Scolecodonta [!] (mostly [[chitin]]ous jaws of [[scolecodonts]])

===Phylum [[Mollusca]]===
[[File:Peltoceras solidum Israel.JPG|thumb|''Peltoceras solidum'' ammonite from the Matmor Formation (Jurassic, Callovian) in the Matmor Formation, Makhtesh Gadol, Israel.]]
[[File:Petaloconchus Cyprus Pliocene.JPG|thumb|Vermetid gastropod ''[[Petaloconchus intortus]]'' attached to a branch of the coral ''[[Cladocora]]''; Pliocene of Cyprus.]]
Molluscs or [[mollusk]]s, not to be confused with the [[Exoskeleton|hard-shelled]] [[Marine (ocean)|marine]] [[brachiopod]]s above.

*Class [[Monoplacophora]] ([[extinct]], except for "[[living fossil]]" [[Neopilina]])
*Class [[Bivalvia]] / [[Pelecypoda]] (bivalves/pelecypods) – half of all documented species of Bivalvia are fossils and extinct <ref>For bivalves and cephalopods (both mollusks), see the above notation.</ref>
**Subclass [[Lamellibranchia]] [!] ([[clam]]s, [[oyster]]s, [[mussel]]s and [[scallop]]s)
*Class [[Gastropoda]] (gastropods/[[snail]] group)
**Subclass [[Prosobranchia]] ([[Marine (ocean)|marine]] snails and [[conch]]es)
**Subclass [[Opisthobranchia]] (sea slugs)
**Subclass [[Pulmonata]] ([[land snail]]s)
*Class [[Cephalopoda]] (cephalopods) – 97 % of all documented species of Cephalopoda are now extinct
**Subclass [[Nautiloidea]] (mostly extinct, but includes "[[living fossil]]" ''[[Nautilus]]'')
***Order [[Orthocerida]] [†] [!] ([[orthoconic|long, straight-shelled]] [[nautiloid]]s)
**Subclass [[Ammonoidea]] [†] [!] (generally coiled-shelled [[ammonoid]]s)
***Agoniatitic (agoniatites) [†]
***Goniatitic ([[goniatite]]s) [†] [!] (ammonoids with simple [[suture (anatomical)|sutures]])
***Ceratitic (ceratites) [†]
***[[Ammonite|Ammonitic]] [†] [!] (the true [[ammonite]]s, bearing complex [[suture (anatomical)|sutures]])
**Subclass [[Coleoidea]] (includes the living [[squid]], [[cuttlefish]], and [[octopus]])
***Order [[Belemnoidea]] [†] (extinct [[orthoconic]] belemnoids)

==Super-phylum of [[Ecdysozoa]]/[[Protostomia]] # 2==
[[Ecdysozoa]]ns, such as [[nematode]]s, [[horsehair worm]]s, and [[molting]] [[bilateria]]ns/[[Panarthropoda|panarthropods]]

===Phylum [[Tardigrada]]===
Panarthropodic [[water bear]]s.

===Phylum [[Onychophora]]===
Panarthropodic [[velvet worm]]s, including proto-arthropodic fossils of ''Arthropleura'' and ''Aysheaia.''

===Phylum [[Arthropoda]]===
[[File:ElrathiakingiUtahWheelerCambrian.jpg|thumb|''Elrathia kingii'' (trilobite) from the Wheeler Shale (Middle Cambrian), Utah.]]
Arthropods; [[jointed leg]]ged creatures with an [[exoskeleton]].

*Subphylum [[Crustacea]] (crustaceans)
**Class [[Ostracoda]] (ostracods)
**Class [[Malacostraca]] (true [[crab]]s, [[lobster]] and most [[shrimp]])
**Class [[Branchiopoda]] ([[brine shrimp]])
***Order [[Notostraca]]
**Class [[Cirripedia]] ([[barnacle]]s)
**Class Arachnoidea
*Subphylum [[Trilobitomorpha]] [†] (extinct [[trilobite]] group)
**Class [[Trilobita]] [†] (the armoured trilobites)
*Subphylum [[Hexapoda]]
**Class [[Insecta]] (insects, best preserved in [[amber]])
*Subphylum [[Chelicerata]]
**Class [[Arachnida]] ([[spider]]s, best preserved in [[amber]])
**Class [[Xiphosura]] ("[[living fossil]]" [[horseshoe crab]]s)
*Subphylum [[Myriapoda]]
**Class [[Diplopoda]]
**Class [[Chilopoda]]

==Super-phylum of [[Deuterostomia]] / Enterocoelomata==
Second-mouthed [[bilateria]]ns called [[deuterostomia]]ns, such as [[chordate]]s and [[echinoderm]]s.

===Phylum [[Echinodermata]]===
[[File:JurassicCrinoidsIsrael.JPG|thumb|Middle Jurassic (Callovian) crinoid pluricolumnals (''Apiocrinites'') from the Matmor Formation in Hamakhtesh Hagadol, southern Israel.]]
Echinoderms – 72% of all documented species of Echinodermata are fossils ''and'' extinct.<ref>For the echinoderms, see the above footnote regarding W. E. Easton, 1960, ''Invertebrate Paleontology'', and other sources.</ref>

*Subphylum [[Crinoid|Crinozoa]] ([[Sessility (zoology)|sessile]] echinoderms) – 91% of all documented species of Crinozoa are now extinct
**Class [[Crinoid]]ea (crinoids / [[sea lilies]]) – See Crinozoa above
*Subphylum [[Blastozoa]] [†] (extinct [[blastoid]]s)
**Class [[Diploporita]]
**Class [[Rhombifera]]
*Subphylum [[Echinozoa]] ([[Population mobility|mobile]] echinoderms) – 89% of all documented species of Echinozoa are now extinct
**Class [[Echinoidea]] (echinoids or [[sea urchin]]s) – See Echinozoa above
***Order [[Clypeasteroida]]
***Order [[Camarodonta]]
*Subphylum [[Asterozoa]]
**Class [[Asteroidea]] ([[sea star]]s/starfish)
**Class [[Ophiuroidea]]

===Phylum [[Hemichordata]]===
[[File:TetragraptusfruticosusBendigonian.jpg|thumb|''Pendeograptus fruticosus'' graptolites from the Bendigonian Australian Stage (Lower Ordovician) near Bendigo, Victoria, Australia. Two overlapping, three-stiped rhabdosomes.]]
Hemichordates such as extant [[acorn worm]]s – Less than half of the documented species of Hemichordata are fossils and extinct.

*Class [[Graptoloidea]] [†] (extinct [[graptolite]]s)
**Order [[Dendroidea]] [†]
**Order [[Graptoloidea]] [†]
***Suborder Didymograptina [†]
***Suborder Diplograptina [†]
***Suborder Monograptina [†]

===Phylum [[Chordata]]===
Both invertebrate and vertebrate chordates; are animals possessing a [[notochord]].

====Invertebrate subphyla====
*Subphylum [[Urochordata]] (invertebrate [[tunicate]] such as [[sea squirt]]s)
*Subphylum [[Cephalochordata]] (invertebrate [[lancelet]]s)

====Subphylum [[Vertebrata]]====
[[File:Deinosuchus hatcheri 052913.jpg|thumb|''Deinosuchus hatcheri'' at the Natural History Museum of Utah.]]
*Vertebrates such as [[hagfish]]es, [[lamprey]]s, [[conodont]]s [†], [[ostracoderm]]s [†], [[placoderm]]s [†], [[shark]]s, [[ray-finned fish]]es, [[lobe-finned fish]]es, [[amphibian]]s, [[reptile]]s, [[dinosaur]]s [†], [[bird]]s and [[mammal]]s.

==See also==
*[[Invertebrate paleontology]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Taxonomy of...}}

[[Category:Prehistoric animals|*Taxonomy]]
[[Category:Fossils]]
[[Category:Animal taxonomy]]