Fossils

The preserved remains of an animal, plant, or organism from the past.

• Fossil

• Mold

• Cast

• Amber

The fossil imprint made by the outside of a dead plant or animal

• Cast

• Mold

• Body or True Fossil

• Trace Fossil

A fossil formed when sediments or minerals fill a mold. It takes the same outside shape as the living thing that shaped the mold

• Mold

• Cast

• Trace Fossil

• Body or True Fossil

Hard translucent fossilized resin, typically yellowish in color

• Trace Fossil

• Body or True Fossil

• Amber

• Mold

A fossil that shows changes that long-dead animals made in their surroundings (The imprint of a plant or animal, like footprints)

• Body or True Fossil

• Mold

• Cast

• Trace Fossil

Fossils of the actual animal or animal part

• Body or True Fossil

• Mold

• Cast

• Trace Fossil

A few paleontologists are studying fossils in a dry desert. They are lucky enough to find fish bones. What information does that give us?

• All dinosaurs were fish

• There used to be water there

• Fish can live in the desert

A paleontologist stumbles upon some coprolites (fossilized poop - yay!). She finds some bones in the coprolites. What information can she get about the dinosaur?

• The fossil was an animal

• The animal ate other animals

• The animal was a plant eater

When dinosaurs walked on soft mud, they left footprints. When the mud dried and turned to stone, the footprints were left over. What type of fossil is this?

• Body or True Fossil

• Cast Fossil

• Trace Fossil

• Amber

What type of scientists study fossils?

• Chemists

• Physicists

• Astronomers

• Paleontologists