History of Life on Earth Vocab

Front

Evolutionary division of organisms into diverse groups over a short geologic time.

Back

Adaptive radiation.

Front

Info about Earth's history from fossils

Back

fossil record

Front

Describes a species that once lived on Earth but no longer exists.

Back

extinct

Front

Eroded sediments are dropped in a new location, ending erosion.

Back

Deposition

Front

Longest division of geologic time scale

Back

eon

Front

Fossil formed when sediment fills a mold of an organic object, creating a sediment replica.

Back

cast

Front

Impression in sediment left by an object (e.g., leaf, footprint) that may become fossilized.

Back

imprint

Front

Movement of Earth's continents relative to each other

Back

continental drift

Front

A large landmass formed by converging continents.

Back

supercontinent

Front

Process of moving sediment by natural forces like wind, water, or ice.

Back

erosion