Why can you find the same type of fossil in different types of rock strata?

Answer 1

Just one possible answer here among many. Even though the strata may be from the same age, their depositional environment may have been different. For instance, in one place, it may have been a shallow marine environment, and in the other, a deeper water environment. Different animals are suited or adapted to a specific set of environmental surroundings. It could also have been because of erosion or faulting.

Answer 2

This is because while different types of rock strata were formed during different times, the times may not have been far part. This means that during those time periods, the same organisms lived in that particular area.

Answer 3

Sometimes, one or more rock units are missing from the middle of a sequence of layers. Close examination of the outcrop shows a sharp or irregular contact where the missing rocks should be. This contact is called an unconformity. Unconformities are surfaces which represents a gap in the geologic record, because of either erosion or nondeposition. Unconformities can be traced between stratigraphic sequences miles apart. Although unconformities may truncate rocks of many different ages, the sediments directly overlying the unconformity are roughly the same age.

Answer 4

The same type of fossil can be found in different rock strata because the fossil was deposited during the same time period when those rock layers were forming. Fossils are used to correlate and date rock layers, so they can be found in multiple rock strata of the same age. The fossil type gives insights into the environment and conditions at that time.

Answer 5

The animal may have lived in different habitats or may have kept going for many millions of years.