Lochriea

Lochriea

Lochriea was an extinct group of small sea creatures called conodonts. These tiny animals lived in the oceans millions of years ago. We only know about them from their fossils.

Conodonts like Lochriea are important to scientists. Their fossils help us learn about how life evolved long before dinosaurs existed. Studying these fossils gives clues about the ancient seas and the creatures that lived there.

Use in stratigraphy

The Visean, the second age of the Mississippian, has four zones based on tiny ancient creatures called conodonts. Two of these zones are named after species of Lochriea:

• the zone of Lochriea nodosa
• the zone of Lochriea commutata

The Serpukhovian, the third and last age of the Mississippian, has three conodont zones. One of these is named after a Lochriea species:

• the zone of Lochriea ziegleri