Graptolites

Information

Graptolites lived as colonial suspension feeders. Graptoloid graptolites were planktonic, stick shaped organisms with one or both edges appearing serrated. The number of stipes reduced over time, and the arrangement of the stipes changed from serrated edges facing each other (pendent) to being back to back (scandent)... Read more

Taxonomy

• Phylum: Hemichordata
• Class: Graptolithina

Diagnostic features

These are the features that will help you to identify fossils as graptolites.

• One or both edges may appear serrated
• Thecae
• Rhabdosome
• Stipes

Stratigraphic range

Cambrian to Carboniferous