Fossils in Utah Where are they? (PUSH ENTER)

Click on a star to find information about fossils found in this area.

Millard County TRILOBITES Trilobites are extinct marine (water) animals that existed 550 million to around 300 million years ago in the seas that once covered Utah. They are related to crustaceans of today such as crabs and lobsters. There are many kinds of trilobites found all over the world. Trilobites were easily fossilized because as they died, their bodies settled to the sea bottom where they were covered by layer after layer of new soil. Back

Emery County Allosaurus Of the bones taken out of Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry, about three-quarters belong to the meat-eater Allosaurus. This predator has sharp claws, strong jaws and sharp teeth. Back

Emery County Stegosaurus Back The STEGOSAURUS was a dinosaur from the Jurassic period (about 200 million years ago). You can recognize it by the bony plates that run down the neck and back. It had a small head with a walnut-sized brain (the same as a kitten)! The stegosaurus was a plant eater. The bones of the Stegosaurus are found throughout the Cleveland-Lloyd quarry, but especially in "Stegosaurus Corner" where four skeletons were discovered. Back

Emery County Camarasaurus CAMARASAURUS means "chambered lizard" because of the hollow chambers in its backbones. This made it lighter, so the Camarasaurus could move easily. These plant-eaters grew larger than the quarry building. Back

Uintah County Marshosaurus Marshosaurus is small, rare theropod (beast footed). It is a carnivore that reached lengths up to 16 feet and was named after O.C. Marsh, a famous paleontologist from the 1800s. Back

Uintah County Allosaurus This predator has sharp claws, strong jaws and sharp teeth. It is from the late Jurassic period. The ALLOSAURUS is Utah’s State Fossil. Back

Uintah County Camarasaurus CAMARASAURUS means "chambered lizard" because of the hollow chambers in its backbones. This made it lighter, so the Camarasaurus could move easily. These dinosaurs reached lengths of 50 feet! Camarasaurus walked on all fours, but could rear up on its hind legs to reach high trees to feed with its strong, spoon shaped teeth. Back

Grand County Utahraptor UTAHRAPTOR was discovered in 1991 by Dr. Jim Kirkland in a desert near Moab, Utah. It was a meat-eater and used its large, razor-sharp claws to cut into its prey. Its build shows it was a speedy predator, and evidence suggests that it was pack hunter. Like other meat-eating dinosaurs, raptors walked on two legs. Claw Utahraptor Skull Claw Back

Summit County SABER TOOTHED CAT The SABER-TOOTHED CAT fossil was found near Park City. It is an extinct ice age animal. Back

Iron County OYSTERS A shallow sea entered this area from the east about 190-160 million years ago. There are several layers of limestone here made almost entirely of shells and shell pieces. Back

Box Elder County TRILOBITES Trilobites are extinct marine (water) animals that existed 550 million to around 300 million years ago in the seas that once covered Utah. They are related to crustaceans of today such as crabs and lobsters. There are many different kinds of trilobites found all over the world. Trilobites were easily fossilized because as they died their bodies settled to the sea bottom where they were covered by layer after layer of new soil deposits. Back

Tooele County Crinoid Sea Fossils Brachiopod About 350 million years ago, warm shallow seas rich with life covered most of Utah. West of Salt Lake in Tooele County, fossils of crinoids or sea lilies, two-valved seashells (brachiopods) and coral are found. Horn Coral Crinoid Stems Back

Wayne County PETRIFIED WOOD PETRIFIED WOOD and agate have been found by Capitol Reef National Park. Petrified wood is a fossil in which the organic material has been replaced by minerals during the fossilization process. Back

Sanpete County HUNTINGTON MAMMOTH The HUNTINGTON MAMMOTH was found in 1988 by people working on a dam. It is an ice age animal. The skeleton was 90% complete. The Huntington mammoth lived about 10,500 years ago. Tooth wear and arthritis in its bones tells us it was a very old mammoth. Scientists could tell what its last meal was! Back

Garfield County Stegosaurus The stegosaurus was a dinosaur from the Jurassic period (about 195 million years ago) and has been found in several places in Utah. You can recognize it by the bony plates that run down the neck and back. It had a small head with a walnut-sized brain (the same as a kitten)! The stegosaurus was a plant eater. Back

“Last Chance” Ceratops Kane County Diabloceratops “Last Chance” Ceratops The Diabloceratops was discovered in Southern Utah near the Last Chance stream in 2006. It is a dinosaur with long nose horns and short spiny frills, related to the well-known Triceratops. It lived during the Campanian Stage (about 70 - 83 million years ago). Back

Duchesne County Plant Fossils Lush forests and a huge freshwater lake covered part of Utah during the early Tertiary Period (about 50 million years ago). Plant fossils can be found throughout central and northern Utah in sedimentary rocks of this age. Back