Welcome to the Digital Atlas of Ancient Life

Identify fossils and explore the diversity and history of life on Earth

What's new?

Regional field guides to fossils

Need help identifying your fossil discoveries?

Access Digital Atlas field guides to fossils from particular time periods and regions by selecting from the guides above, or by downloading Version 2.0 of the free Digital Atlas of Ancient Life App, available now for iOS and Android devices.

Digital Encyclopedia of Ancient Life

A free, open access paleontology textbook

Topics online now:

• Nature of the Fossil Record
• Geological Time
• Evolution and the Fossil Record
• Systematics
• Paleoecology
• Conservation Paleobiology
• Phylum Porifera (sponges)
• Phylum Cnidaria, Order Rugosa (rugose corals)
• Phylum Cnidaria, Order Tabulata (tabulate corals)
• Phylum Cnidaria, Order Scleractinia
• Phylum Brachiopoda (brachiopods)
• Phylum Bryozoa
• Phylum Mollusca, Class Gastropoda (gastropods)
• Phylum Mollusca, Class Bivalvia (bivalves)
• Phylum Mollusca, Class Cephalopoda (cephalopods)
• Phylum Echinodermata (echinoderms)
• Phylum Chordata (chapter in progress)
• Embryophytes (land plants, chapter in progress)
• Angiosperms (flowering plants, chapter in progress)
• Paleontological Methods and Techniques: Photogrammetry

Virtual Collections

Interactive, 3D models of fossil and modern specimens. 

Virtual Exhibits

Explore virtual museum exhibits about different topics in natural history

New: Our first virtual exhibit, "Survivors: Up Close with Living Fossils," is online now. Explore here.

Resources for Teachers

Classroom lesson plans, activities, and associated materials that relate to the Ordovician, Cretaceous, and Neogene Atlases. All of these resources may be freely accessed and downloaded here.