OFFICIAL STATE FOSSIL - PHACOPS RANA
                 Act of Dec. 5, 1988, P.L. 1113, No. 138              Cl. 71
                                  AN ACT

     Designating the Phacops rana, a trilobite, as the official State
        fossil of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

        The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     hereby enacts as follows:

     Section 1.  Official State fossil.
        Phacops rana is a specific type of trilobite, a small sea
     creature. Trilobites were rulers of the sea during the Cambrian
     Period, 515 to 600 million years ago. Trilobites are so named
     because their bodies are divided lengthwise into three parts or
     "lobes." Phacops rana means "frog eyes" because of the large
     holes for eyes on the fossil. Fossils of Phacops rana are found
     in many parts of Pennsylvania, and, therefore, the Phacops rana
     is selected, designated and adopted as the official State fossil
     of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
     Section 2.  Effective date.
        This act shall take effect immediately.