Occurrence dataset Registered November 06, 2017

    Paleobiology Database

    McClennen M • Jenkins J • Uhen M

    Description

    The Paleobiology Database (PBDB) is a non-governmental, non-profit public resource for paleontological data. It has been organized and operated by a multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional, international group of paleobiological researchers. Its purpose is to provide global, collection-based occurrence and taxonomic data for organisms of all geological ages, as well data services to allow easy access to data for independent development of analytical tools, visualization software, and applications of all types. The Database’s broader goal is to encourage and enable data-driven collaborative efforts that address large-scale paleobiological questions.

    Geographic scope

    Description

    Collections in the Paleobiology Database are assigned present-day coordinates and geological ages. These two pieces of information are combined with paleogeographic rotation models to obtain reconstructed paleogeographic positions.

    Bounding box
    Latitude
    From -90 to 90
    Longitude
    From -180 to 180

    Taxonomic scope

    Description

    Mollusca 33%
    Brachiopoda 13%
    Arthropoda 10%
    Mammalia 8%
    Cnidaria 5%
    Radiolaria 4%
    Foraminifera 3%
    Bryozoa 2%
    Echinodermata 2%

    Coverage
    MolluscaBrachiopodaArthropoda
    Mammalia
    Cnidaria
    Radiolaria
    ForaminiferaBryozoaEchinodermata

    Methodology

    Sampling

    Data are extracted from the published literature on fossil organisms.

    Study extent

    Global

    Method steps
    1. Data are extracted from the published literature on fossil organisms.

    Metrics

    Additional info

    https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and http://vertnet.org/resources/norms.html

    Contacts

    • Michael McClennen

      Originator
      Organization
      Paleobiology Database
      Position
      Chief Informaticist
      Roles
      Originator
      Email
      Phone
    • Julian Jenkins

      Metadata author
      Point of contact
      Administrative point of contact
      Organization
      Paleobiology Database
      Position
      Geoinformaticist/Data Scientist
      Roles
      Metadata author
      Point of contact
      Administrative point of contact
      Email
    • Mark Uhen

      Metadata author
      Organization
      Paleobiology Database
      Position
      Executive Committee Chair
      Roles
      Metadata author
      Email
    • David Bloom

      Programmer
      Organization
      VertNet
      Position
      Coordinator
      Roles
      Programmer
      Email
    • John Wieczorek

      Programmer
      Organization
      VertNet
      Position
      Information Architect
      Roles
      Programmer
      Email

    GBIF registration

    Registration date
    November 06, 2017
    Metadata last modified
    June 11, 2025
    Publication date
    April 23, 2024
    Hosted by
    VertNet
    Installation
    IPT - Hosted by VertNet
    Endpoints
    Darwin Core Archive
    EML
    Preferred identifier
    10.15468/jfqhiu
    Alternative identifiers

    Citation

    McClennen M, Jenkins J, Uhen M (2024). Paleobiology Database. Version 1.3. Paleobiology Database. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/jfqhiu accessed via GBIF.org on 2025-07-05.