FossilsFossils

By: Mrs. BreedingBy: Mrs. Breeding

What Is A Fossil?What Is A Fossil?

Remains or evidence of animals or plants that Remains or evidence of animals or plants that have been preserved.have been preserved.

They range in size from a huge dinosaur They range in size from a huge dinosaur skeleton or a tiny plants and animals that can skeleton or a tiny plants and animals that can only be seen under a microscope.only be seen under a microscope.

By studying these survivors we can get a By studying these survivors we can get a glimpse into our past!glimpse into our past!

How Fossils Are MadeHow Fossils Are Made

When a plant or animal When a plant or animal dies the soft parts dies the soft parts quickly decay or are quickly decay or are eaten. eaten.

Hard parts such as Hard parts such as bones, teeth, and shells, bones, teeth, and shells, last much longer.last much longer.

They may become They may become fossils.fossils.

Where are fossils found?Where are fossils found?

Most are found in Most are found in sedimentary rocks.sedimentary rocks.

The remains are gently The remains are gently buried by sediments.buried by sediments.

They become fossils if They become fossils if they remain undisturbed they remain undisturbed as the sediments turn as the sediments turn into rocks.into rocks.

ImprintsImprints

Animal tracks, body Animal tracks, body outlines, leaf prints, and outlines, leaf prints, and grooves made by tiny grooves made by tiny fish bones.fish bones.

An imprint is a mark An imprint is a mark made by pressing.made by pressing.

Other Ways Fossils FormOther Ways Fossils Form

Sometimes entire Sometimes entire insects became trapped insects became trapped in sticky sap oozing in sticky sap oozing from certain trees from certain trees (amber).(amber).

Other Ways Fossils FormedOther Ways Fossils Formed

Sometimes entire animals Sometimes entire animals were preserved by being were preserved by being frozen.frozen.

Mammoths are relatives of Mammoths are relatives of modern elephants.modern elephants.

Fossilize mammoths have Fossilize mammoths have been found in ice and frozen been found in ice and frozen ground.ground.

Bones, hair, skin, flesh and Bones, hair, skin, flesh and even some organs have been even some organs have been preserved.preserved.

Other Ways Fossils FormedOther Ways Fossils Formed

Many fossils have been Many fossils have been discovered in tar pits. discovered in tar pits. Saber-toothed tigers, Saber-toothed tigers, camels, mammoths, and camels, mammoths, and other animals became stuck other animals became stuck in tar pits and died.in tar pits and died.

Their flesh decayed, while Their flesh decayed, while their bones sank.their bones sank.

The bones were preserved The bones were preserved as the tar around them as the tar around them hardened. hardened.

PetrifiedPetrified

Parts of plants and Parts of plants and animals especially wood animals especially wood and bones, may also be and bones, may also be preserved.preserved.

How???How???

Bones have a hard outer Bones have a hard outer layer. Inside is a spongy layer. Inside is a spongy layer with connected pores.layer with connected pores.

When a bone is buried, When a bone is buried, minerals may slowly seep minerals may slowly seep into the pores and fill them. into the pores and fill them.

The bone is then dissolves The bone is then dissolves and replaced by mineralsand replaced by minerals

The woody parts of plants The woody parts of plants are preserved in the same are preserved in the same way.way.

Could a whole animal become a Could a whole animal become a fossil?fossil?

Yes, a whole animal Yes, a whole animal could become a fossil could become a fossil by becoming trapped in by becoming trapped in a protective material, a protective material, such as tar or amber.such as tar or amber.

More about fossilsMore about fossils

Fossils reprensent only Fossils reprensent only a very small part of all a very small part of all the plants and animals the plants and animals that lived in the past. that lived in the past.

Most organisms die Most organisms die without leaving a trace.without leaving a trace.

Bones are scattered and Bones are scattered and broken. broken.

Complete skeletons are Complete skeletons are rare lucky finds!rare lucky finds!

Why Are Some Fossils Found In Why Are Some Fossils Found In Deserts?Deserts?

Long ago it wasn’t a Long ago it wasn’t a desert. desert.

Some dinosaurs liked Some dinosaurs liked marshy areas, during marshy areas, during heavy rains mud slides heavy rains mud slides covered and killed the covered and killed the animals. animals.

Over time the mud Over time the mud turned into sandstone turned into sandstone and the bones turned and the bones turned into fossils.into fossils.

What Happens Once Fossils Are What Happens Once Fossils Are Found?Found?

Collecting is the first step.Collecting is the first step. Workers remove skeletons Workers remove skeletons

bone by bone.bone by bone. Each bone is wrapped in Each bone is wrapped in

plaster and labeled.plaster and labeled. Paleontologist use small Paleontologist use small

tools to pick away at the tools to pick away at the rock. rock.

They also soak the bones in They also soak the bones in a liquid that dissolves rock.a liquid that dissolves rock.

QuestionQuestion

In which type of rock would most fossils be In which type of rock would most fossils be found? found?

AnswerAnswer

SedimentarySedimentary

QuestionQuestion

How is the fossilized skeleton of a dinosaur How is the fossilized skeleton of a dinosaur similar to the modern skeleton of a lizard?similar to the modern skeleton of a lizard?

AnswerAnswer

Although they would be different sizes, they Although they would be different sizes, they both have backbones and tails.both have backbones and tails.

QuestionQuestion

Why would a fossil of a dinosaur bone be Why would a fossil of a dinosaur bone be much heavier than the original bone?much heavier than the original bone?

AnswerAnswer

It is now made of minerals.It is now made of minerals.

QuestionQuestion

What are the soft tissues of an animal’s or an What are the soft tissues of an animal’s or an organisms body not usually preserved by a organisms body not usually preserved by a fossil?fossil?

AnswerAnswer

The soft tissue rots away.The soft tissue rots away.

QuestionQuestion

What might a scientist tell from seashell What might a scientist tell from seashell fossils found on top of a mountain?fossils found on top of a mountain?

AnswerAnswer

The mountain was once part of an ocean floor.The mountain was once part of an ocean floor.

QuestionQuestion

What evidence shows that parts of Utah were What evidence shows that parts of Utah were once the sea floor of and ancient ocean?once the sea floor of and ancient ocean?

AnswerAnswer

Trilobites are an extinct Trilobites are an extinct group of arthropods that group of arthropods that first appeared early in the first appeared early in the Cambrian Period. They Cambrian Period. They occupied a remarkable occupied a remarkable range of ecological niches range of ecological niches of the early Earth's oceans. of the early Earth's oceans. Trilobites were stunningly Trilobites were stunningly complex and beautiful complex and beautiful animals.animals.

QuestionQuestion

What is a common cause of plant and animal What is a common cause of plant and animal extinction?extinction?

AnswerAnswer

The climate changes.The climate changes. If an environment changes faster than a If an environment changes faster than a

species can adapt, the species will become species can adapt, the species will become extinct.extinct.

QuestionQuestion

Did Mammoths once live here in Utah?Did Mammoths once live here in Utah?

AnswerAnswer

Yes!Yes! The animals that lived in Utah during the Ice The animals that lived in Utah during the Ice

Age included many of the same animals that Age included many of the same animals that we find here today, as well as many extinct we find here today, as well as many extinct forms such as mammoths, mastodons, ground forms such as mammoths, mastodons, ground sloths, and saber-toothed cats sloths, and saber-toothed cats

QuestionQuestion

What is a carnivore, herbivore and a What is a carnivore, herbivore and a omnivore?omnivore?

AnswerAnswer

CarnivoresCarnivores are meat eaters, generally requiring live are meat eaters, generally requiring live foods. They have a large mouth with sharp pointed foods. They have a large mouth with sharp pointed teeth that allow them to grasp their prey and tear off teeth that allow them to grasp their prey and tear off large chunks of flesh.large chunks of flesh.

HerbivoresHerbivores are on the opposite end of the dietary are on the opposite end of the dietary food chain from carnivores. The proper diet for an food chain from carnivores. The proper diet for an herbivore consists of plants, algae, and fruits.herbivore consists of plants, algae, and fruits.allowed whole rather than ground or chewed first. allowed whole rather than ground or chewed first.

OmnivoresOmnivores eat a variety of meat and vegetable eat a variety of meat and vegetable matter. matter.

QuestionQuestion

Do you think you could find a fossil in Do you think you could find a fossil in limestone?limestone?

AnswerAnswer

Yes, limestone is sedimentary rock.Yes, limestone is sedimentary rock.

QuestionQuestion

Where could you find an entire preserved Where could you find an entire preserved animal?animal?

AnswerAnswer

In amber.In amber.

QuestionQuestion

What have scientist learned about oceans from What have scientist learned about oceans from fossils?fossils?

AnswerAnswer

Oceans have changed in size and location.Oceans have changed in size and location.

QuestionQuestion

Why is it important that we study fossils?Why is it important that we study fossils?

AnswerAnswer

Fossils are evidence or organisms that lived a Fossils are evidence or organisms that lived a long time ago.long time ago.