The Bear Gulch Limestone Collection
Worm
- Name: Deuteronectanebos papillorum
- System: Upper Carboniferous
- Series: Namurian, Upper Chesterian
- Collector: W. Melton and party
Conodontophage
- Name: Typhloesus wellsi
- System: Upper Carboniferous
- Series: Namurian, Upper Chesterian
- Collector: W. Melton and party
Coelacanth
- Name: Allenypterus montanensis
- System: Upper Carboniferous
- Series: Namurian, Upper Chesterian
- Collector: W. Melton and party
Shrimp
- Name: Tyrannophontes acanthocerus
- System: Upper Carboniferous
- Series: Namurian, Upper Chesterian
- Collector: W. Melton and party
Starfish
- Name: Lepidastarella montanensis
- System: Upper Carboniferous
- Series: Namurian, Upper Chesterian
- Collector: W. Melton and party
Bear Gulch Limestone Fauna (Mississippian)
This Carboniferous (Mississippian) deposit in central Montana contains amazing examples of fossil preservation including soft-part preservation of plant and animal tissues/organs. The biota includes the world’s most divers Carboniferous fish fauna, soft algae and plants, brachiopods, bivalves, soft-bodied worms, shrimp-like decapods, complete starfish, and conodont-eating organisms. Some of this diverse fossil collection is illustrated here.
