Fossils By: Mrs. Breeding

What Is A Fossil? Remains or evidence of animals or plants that have been preserved. Remains or evidence of animals or plants that have been preserved. They range in size from a huge dinosaur skeleton or a tiny plants and animals that can only be seen under a microscope. They range in size from a huge dinosaur skeleton or a tiny plants and animals that can only be seen under a microscope. By studying these survivors we can get a glimpse into our past! By studying these survivors we can get a glimpse into our past!

How Fossils Are Made When a plant or animal dies the soft parts quickly decay or are eaten. When a plant or animal dies the soft parts quickly decay or are eaten. Hard parts such as bones, teeth, and shells, last much longer. Hard parts such as bones, teeth, and shells, last much longer. They may become fossils. They may become fossils.

Where are fossils found? Most are found in sedimentary rocks. Most are found in sedimentary rocks. The remains are gently buried by sediments. The remains are gently buried by sediments. They become fossils if they remain undisturbed as the sediments turn into rocks. They become fossils if they remain undisturbed as the sediments turn into rocks.

Imprints Animal tracks, body outlines, leaf prints, and grooves made by tiny fish bones. Animal tracks, body outlines, leaf prints, and grooves made by tiny fish bones. An imprint is a mark made by pressing. An imprint is a mark made by pressing.

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

Other Ways Fossils Formed Sometimes entire animals were preserved by being frozen. Sometimes entire animals were preserved by being frozen. Mammoths are relatives of modern elephants. Mammoths are relatives of modern elephants. Fossilize mammoths have been found in ice and frozen ground. Fossilize mammoths have been found in ice and frozen ground. Bones, hair, skin, flesh and even some organs have been preserved. Bones, hair, skin, flesh and even some organs have been preserved.

Other Ways Fossils Formed Many fossils have been discovered in tar pits. Saber-toothed tigers, camels, mammoths, and other animals became stuck in tar pits and died. Many fossils have been discovered in tar pits. Saber-toothed tigers, camels, mammoths, and other animals became stuck in tar pits and died. Their flesh decayed, while their bones sank. Their flesh decayed, while their bones sank. The bones were preserved as the tar around them hardened. The bones were preserved as the tar around them hardened.

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

How??? Bones have a hard outer layer. Inside is a spongy layer with connected pores. Bones have a hard outer layer. Inside is a spongy layer with connected pores. When a bone is buried, minerals may slowly seep into the pores and fill them. When a bone is buried, minerals may slowly seep into the pores and fill them. The bone is then dissolves and replaced by minerals The bone is then dissolves and replaced by minerals The woody parts of plants are preserved in the same way. The woody parts of plants are preserved in the same way.

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

More about fossils Fossils reprensent only a very small part of all the plants and animals that lived in the past. Fossils reprensent only a very small part of all the plants and animals that lived in the past. Most organisms die without leaving a trace. Most organisms die without leaving a trace. Bones are scattered and broken. Bones are scattered and broken. Complete skeletons are rare lucky finds! Complete skeletons are rare lucky finds!

Why Are Some Fossils Found In Deserts? Long ago it wasn’t a desert. Long ago it wasn’t a desert. Some dinosaurs liked marshy areas, during heavy rains mud slides covered and killed the animals. Some dinosaurs liked marshy areas, during heavy rains mud slides covered and killed the animals. Over time the mud turned into sandstone and the bones turned into fossils. Over time the mud turned into sandstone and the bones turned into fossils.

What Happens Once Fossils Are Found? Collecting is the first step. Collecting is the first step. Workers remove skeletons bone by bone. Workers remove skeletons bone by bone. Each bone is wrapped in plaster and labeled. Each bone is wrapped in plaster and labeled. Paleontologist use small tools to pick away at the rock. Paleontologist use small tools to pick away at the rock. They also soak the bones in a liquid that dissolves rock. They also soak the bones in a liquid that dissolves rock.

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

Answer Sedimentary Sedimentary

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Answer The climate changes. The climate changes. If an environment changes faster than a species can adapt, the species will become extinct. If an environment changes faster than a species can adapt, the species will become extinct.

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

Answer Yes! Yes! The animals that lived in Utah during the Ice Age included many of the same animals that we find here today, as well as many extinct forms such as mammoths, mastodons, ground sloths, and saber-toothed cats The animals that lived in Utah during the Ice Age included many of the same animals that we find here today, as well as many extinct forms such as mammoths, mastodons, ground sloths, and saber-toothed cats

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

Answer Carnivores are meat eaters, generally requiring live foods. They have a large mouth with sharp pointed teeth that allow them to grasp their prey and tear off large chunks of flesh. Carnivores are meat eaters, generally requiring live foods. They have a large mouth with sharp pointed teeth that allow them to grasp their prey and tear off large chunks of flesh. Herbivores are on the opposite end of the dietary food chain from carnivores. The proper diet for an herbivore consists of plants, algae, and fruits. allowed whole rather than ground or chewed first. Herbivores are on the opposite end of the dietary food chain from carnivores. The proper diet for an herbivore consists of plants, algae, and fruits. allowed whole rather than ground or chewed first. Omnivores eat a variety of meat and vegetable matter. Omnivores eat a variety of meat and vegetable matter.

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

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

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

Answer In amber. In amber.

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

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

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

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