The Fossil Record Life ScienceMr. P

Remember…

• Fossils are one piece of evidence for evolution

What are fossils?

• Fossils are naturally preserved remains, imprints, or traces of organisms that lived a long time ago

• A paleontologist is the person who studies fossils

When do fossils form?• The animal or plant decomposes, leaving only

the hard body structure

There are four types of fossils

• Molds• Casts• Trace Fossils• Body Fossils

Mold FossilsMold-imprints from a shell

or skin of an animal

Cast Fossils

• Cast-when these molds are filled with minerals from groundwater

Trace Fossils

• Trace fossils are the remains of animals from the past, including footprints, bite marks, nests, and animal droppings

Body Fossil

• Complete organism is preserved, usually from being frozen, in amber, or in tar.

• Example: Jurassic Park “Mosquito”

Review

• What kind of fossil is this?

• A) Casts• B) Molds• C) Trace Fossils• D) Body Fossils