Alabama

By: Fiona Baker


 * __Alabama's state fossil__**
 * Basilosaurus cetoides (Zeuglodon)
 * __Description of the organism__**
 * The Basilosaurus cetoides is a prehistoric whale. The name basilosaurus means king of the lizards. The Alabama state fossil is a complete skeleton of this creature. The Zeuglodons average size is about 55 to 75 feet long with a tail as big as 40 feet long. This mammal has fins and yoke-shaped molars. Scientist found that this creature was carnivorous.
 * __Picture of the fossil__**

file://localhost/Users/fionabaker/Desktop/Basilosaurus-cetoides.jpg// //This is a picture of Basilosaurus cetoides.// //http://www.statesymbolsusa.org/Lists/fossils_bones.html//

//file://localhost/Users/fionabaker/Desktop/stfossil.gif This is a picture of the fossil. http://www.archives.alabama.gov/images/stfossil.gif
 * __Time existed__**
 * This fossil is estimated to be over forty-five million years old. It is from the Eocene period. During this period the temperatures were about 30° C. There was high amounts of precipitation. There was a lot of vegetation.
 * __Preservation__**
 * This fossil was preserved in Alabama's shallow seas. Shallow seas are good for preserving fossils.
 * __Who found the fossil/Why is it the state fossil__**
 * The fossil was first found in Clarke County in 1833. Then it was later discovered in Choctaw and Washington Counties. A complete skeleton was found on a plantation in southwestern Alabama in 1834. The fossil was discovered by Albert Koch.
 * The Basilosaurus cetoides is Alabama's state fossil because so many skeletons have been found there. Also the most complete Basilosaurus cetoides skeleton was found in Alabama.
 * __Sources__**
 * Alabama Department of Archives and History, Alabama Emblems: Official State Fossil. (n.d.). Alabama Department of Archives and History. Retrieved March 26, 2012, from http://www.archives.alabama.gov/emblems/st_fosil.html
 * Alabama State Fossil - Basilosaurus cetoides. (n.d.). State Symbols USA - official state and national symbols, emblems, icons. Retrieved March 26, 2012, from http://www.statesymbolsusa.org/Alabama/AL-state-fossil.html
 * Encyclopedia of Alabama: Basilosaurus cetoides. (n.d.). Encyclopedia of Alabama. Retrieved March 26, 2012, from http://encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-1386
 * Eocene, t. L., temperature, t. n., variability, w. g., temperatures, s. w., mammals, i. s., vegetation, c. a., et al. (n.d.). The Eocene Epoch. UCMP - University of California Museum of Paleontology. Retrieved March 26, 2012, from http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/tertiary/eocene.php
 * GSA - Alabama State Fossil. (n.d.). GSA | OGB. Retrieved March 26, 2012, from http://www.gsa.state.al.us/gsa/fossil_alabama.html