Copy of `USGS Paleontology - Glossary of Terms`

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USGS Paleontology - Glossary of Terms Category: Earth and Environment > Paleontology Date & country: 17/05/2009, USA Words: 108

Taxonomy
The science dealing with the identification, naming, and classification of plants and animals.

Terrestrial
Referring to land habitats in distinction from water (aquatic) habitats.

Tertiary
The first period of the Cenozoic era (after the Mesozoic era and before the Quaternary period), spanning the time between 65 and 1.8 million years ago.

Triassic
The earliest period of the Mesozoic era, spanning the time between 248 and 213 million years ago. The name Triassic refers to the threefold division of rocks of this age in Germany.

Tropical
Referring to climatic conditions like those found in the region on the earth today between the tropic of Cancer and the tropic of Capricorn; it includes high temperature and humidity and abundant rainfall.

Turonian
European stage of the Upper Cretaceous, spanning the time between 91 and 90 million years ago.

Valanginian
European stage of the Lower Cretaceous, spanning the time between 131 and 122 million years ago.

Vendian
The latest period of the Proterozoic era, spanning the time between 650 and 544 million years ago. Sometimes referred to as the Ediacaran period, the Vendian is distinguished by fossils representing a characteristic collection of complex soft-bodied organisms found at several localities around the world.