1. Fossils in Utah
Where are they?
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2. Click on a star to find information about fossils found in this area.

3. 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.
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4. 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.
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5. 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.
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6. 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.
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7. 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.
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.
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8. 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.
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9. 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
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10. Summit County SABER TOOTHED CAT
The SABER-TOOTHED CAT fossil was found near Park City. It is an extinct ice age animal.
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11. Iron County
OYSTERS
A shallow sea entered this area from the east about million years ago. There are several layers of limestone here made almost entirely of shells and shell pieces.
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12. 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.
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13. Tooele County Crinoid 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
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14. 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.
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15. 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!
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16. 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.
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