Texas Fossils: An Amateur Collector's Handbook

by William Henry Matthews

Mesozoic—that era of geologic time that precedes the [Cenozoic] and follows the [Paleozoic].

Miocene—fourth oldest epoch of the [Tertiary] [period]; follows the [Oligocene], precedes the [Pliocene].

Mississippian—fifth oldest [period] of the [Paleozoic]: follows the [Devonian], precedes the [Pennsylvanian].

Multicellular—composed of more than one cell.

Nacreous—pearly.

Node—a knob.

-oid—a suffix meaning “in the form of.”

Oligocene—the third oldest epoch of the [Tertiary] [period]: precedes the [Miocene], follows the [Eocene].

Operculum—the lid or covering of the [aperture] of certain shells.

Oral—referring to the mouth or [aperture].