Fossils, Fossils, & More Fossils

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What is a fossil?

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A fossil is the preserved remains or traces of a once-living organism, often found in rocks.

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What is a cast fossil?

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A cast fossil is a type of fossil that forms when a mold of an organism is filled with minerals, creating a replica of the original organism.

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What can we learn from fossils?

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Fossils can tell us about the history of life on Earth, how organisms have changed over time, and the environments they lived in.

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What does it mean if a fossil looks like the original organism?

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It means that the fossil is a cast, which is a direct replica of the body part of the once-living thing.

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Why are some fossils more common than others?

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Some fossils are more common because the organisms were abundant, lived in environments that favored fossilization, or existed for a long time.

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What is a carnivore?

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A carnivore is an animal that primarily eats other animals.

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What can we infer if we find a turtle fossil that looks the same as today's turtles?

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We can infer that turtles have not changed much over millions of years.

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Why do we find many fern fossils?

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We find many fern fossils because ferns have changed little over time and were abundant in many environments.

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What does it mean if a scientist finds a fish fossil in the desert?

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It means that the area was once covered by water a long time ago.

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What is a footprint fossil?

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A footprint fossil is a trace fossil that shows the impression left by an animal's foot.