Iowa
Hall's walk through time begins at the Devonian
Coral Reef diorama recreating a scene from 380 million years ago
when Iowa was covered by a shallow tropical sea. The exhibit represents
the area near present-day Coralville, named for the fossil corals discovered
there.
The large fish is called a
Dunkleosteus (dun'-kle-os-te-us). This carnivore was well-protected,
with thick plates of bone protecting its head and vital organs, like armor,
yet it was swift enough to pursue and catch other fish. The Dunkleosteus
could grow as large as a school bus.
