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Fossils

This category is for questions about the bones, fragments, imprints, and other remainders from a different time. The questions and answer you will find here are history set in stone -- our past, immortalized in solid rock. You will also be able to find questions pertaining to the locations of these fossils, how you might identify them, and how they were formed.

3,454 Questions

What was the earliest fossils found in the horse family?

The earliest fossils found in the horse family belong to an animal called Hyracotherium, also known as Eohippus. These fossils date back to the Eocene epoch, about 55 million years ago. Eohippus was a small, dog-sized animal with multiple toes on its feet, which is different from modern horses.

Is it trure there are more fossils in warm wet tropical areas?

Yes, there is typically higher fossil diversity in warm, wet tropical regions because the conditions are favorable for the preservation of organic remains. The abundance of plant and animal life in these environments also increases the likelihood of fossilization.

What does fossil evidence show about the earth's climate?

There are many ways in which fossils can tell us about the changing surface of earth.

Fossils such as ammonites, jelly fish and fish have been found high in mountains. These species almost definitely were marine animals. If you assume that no "higher being" put them there to confuse us, then you have to conclude that the rock must have been at the bottom of the sea at some point and been pushed up to become the mountains.

You can also use distribution of fossils to tell how the continents have moved.

Examples of a small crocodile like creature named Mesosaurus have been found in Brazil and South America suggesting that during the Permian period (299 - 251 million years ago) they were connected. Another example is the mammal-like-reptile Lystrosaurus. Examples dating from about 250 million years ago were found in Antarctica, South Africa and India.

How do you get the cover fossil if you already have the plume fossil?

You cannot obtain the Cover Fossil if you already have the Plume Fossil in the same game without trading. In most games, you can only pick one of the fossils per playthrough. If you want both Pokémon, you'll need to trade with someone who chose differently.

Is Ammonites a trace fossil or a body fossil?

Ammonites are considered body fossils because they are the preserved remains of an organism that lived millions of years ago. Trace fossils, on the other hand, are evidence of the activities of ancient organisms, such as footprints or burrows.

Where does Mary Anning do her work?

Mary Anning did her work along the Jurassic Coast in Lyme Regis, a town located in Dorset, England. She was a renowned fossil collector and paleontologist who made significant discoveries of Jurassic marine fossils in the cliffs and beaches of the area during the early 19th century.

What sedimentar rock is formed from thin layers of clay compaced tightly together?

The sedimentary rock formed from thin layers of compacted clay is called shale. Shale is characterized by its fissility, or ability to split into thin sheets, due to the alignment of clay particles during the rock's formation.

What has happened to the majority of species whose fossils are found in rock?

The majority of species whose fossils are found in rocks are extinct. These species lived in the past but no longer exist today. Fossilization occurs when the remains of organisms are preserved in sedimentary rock over millions of years.

How are plant fossils used as evidence for climate change?

the adaptations of species shown in the fossil record gives an idea to what their surrounding were like.
scientists study fossils to learn about climates long ago. If a plant fossil looks like a modern plant , sicentist guess two plants need the same climate.

Is a thin cavity in a rock showing where a shell has decayed a fossil?

No, a thin cavity in a rock showing where a shell has decayed is not considered a fossil. Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms, such as bones, shells, or imprints, that have been naturally preserved in rock or sediment over time. The empty space left behind by a decayed shell would be considered a mold or cast, not a fossil.

Is shell shaped mineral found in rock cavity fossils?

Yes, shell-shaped minerals can be found in rock cavities known as geodes. These geodes can form in sedimentary or volcanic rocks and can contain minerals such as quartz, calcite, or amethyst that have crystallized within the cavity. While not actual fossils, geodes are a type of mineral formation often found in rock cavities.

Are stromatolites fossils of early organisms?

That's right; stromatolites are fossils of very old bacterial colonies.

Stromatolites are layered accretionary structures formed in shallow water by the trapping, binding and cementation of sedimentary grains by bio-films of microorganisms, especially cyanobacteria (commonly known as blue-green algae). Stromatolites are a major constituent of the fossil record for about the first 3.5 billion years of life on earth and were responsible for creating the atmosphere we breathe.

What kinds of questions can the fossils record help us to answer?

Fossil records can help us understand past environments, evolution of species, extinction events, and the history of life on Earth. They can also provide insights into ancient ecosystems, behaviors of organisms, and the impact of environmental changes on life forms.

Why is mud more likely than sand to fossilize an organism?

Mud is more likely than sand to fossilize an organism because mud has finer particles that can fill in cavities and preserve details of the organism's structure. In contrast, the looser nature of sand may not provide the same level of protection and support for fossilization.

Where was the first stegosaurus fossil found?

The first Stegosaurus fossil was found in Morrison Formation rocks in Morrison, Colorado, in the United States in 1877 by paleontologist Othniel Charles Marsh.

Which type of rock may contain fossil?

fossils almost allways occur in sedementary rock. this is the only way to get fossils without burning or cruching the fossil. you sometimes get fossils in igneous rock, but this is very rare. igneous rock fossils do not have any actual "fossils" in them, they are just impressions.

How the age of fossils of plant and animals etc is determined?

well it mostly depends on the ways and types

1) the logical approach- in this the things (fossils) you find deeper will be more older than the one found on the surface.

2)the constituent study- the method work by calculating the number of isotopes of an element present in the fossil

3)carbon dating - estimating the number of cabon14 isotope.

What is the exact copy of a fossil called?

The exact copy of a fossil is called a replica or a cast. Replicas are created to study and display fossils without risking damage to the original specimen.

Why are fossils found in sedimenta rocks but no in igneous or metamorphic rock?

there arnt any rocks in metamorphic because they would be destroyed by whatver made the rock, the igneous rock is made from lava/magma when it hardens so any fossil structure would burn or disintegrate before the rock even solidified, the sedimentary rock is covered by more layers of dust or dirt or rock after the remains (fossil)is there many times the remains dont survive becoming fossils even sedimentary rock because of the pressure or erosion.

What criteria are used to identify index fossils?

An index fossil must be of a rapidly evolving organism that only existed for a specific period of time, is easily recognizable, is abundantly preserved, and was widespread geographically. Most index fossils are therefore of marine organisms.

What evidence do scientists find in fossils and living things?

Scientists find evidence in fossils and living things such as changes in morphology, genetic similarities, and transitional forms that support the theory of evolution. Fossils can show physical adaptations over time, and living organisms can reflect common ancestry through shared genetic traits. These pieces of evidence help scientists to understand the evolutionary history and relationships between different species.

How can uplift help make fossils easier to find?

Uplift can bring buried fossils closer to the Earth's surface where they can be more easily exposed through erosion or other natural processes. This increased accessibility can make it easier for researchers and paleontologists to locate and study fossils.