Fossil Review

Front

What is a carbonized film fossil?

Back

A carbonized film fossil forms when organisms are pressed between layers of soft mud or clay that hardens, squeezing almost all the decaying organism away and leaving a carbon imprint in the rock.

Front

What is a trace fossil?

Back

A trace fossil is formed when mud or sand hardens to stone, leaving behind evidence of an organism such as footprints, coprolites (feces), egg shells, gastroliths (stomach stones), regurgitaliths (vomit), nests, trails, or burrows.

Front

What is a cast fossil?

Back

A cast fossil forms when a mold of an organism is filled with sand or mud that hardens into the shape of the organism.

Front

Why is quick burial important for fossilization?

Back

Quick burial is important to protect the organism from decay, scavengers, and environmental factors that can destroy the remains.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Front

In which type of rock are fossils typically found?

Back

Fossils are typically found in sedimentary rock.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Front

What are coprolites?

Back

Coprolites are fossilized feces that provide evidence of the diet and behavior of ancient organisms.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Front

What are gastroliths?

Back

Gastroliths are stones that some animals, particularly herbivores, swallow to help grind up food in their stomachs.

Front

What is the difference between a mold and a cast fossil?

Back

A mold fossil is an impression left in sediment, while a cast fossil is formed when sediment fills the mold and hardens into the shape of the organism.

Front

What conditions are necessary for fossilization to occur?

Back

Conditions necessary for fossilization include rapid burial, low oxygen levels, and the presence of sediment to protect the remains.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Front

What is the significance of sedimentary rock in paleontology?

Back

Sedimentary rock is significant in paleontology because it is where most fossils are found, as it forms in layers that can preserve biological remains.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3