Fossils

The hardened remains of a living thing that died long ago.

• extinct
• cast
• fossil
• bone

Scientists who study fossils are called

• Geologists
• Paleontologists
• bone guys
• Meteorologists

Which of the following is NOT an example of a fossil?

• a petrified dinosaur bone
• a footprint captured in mud
• a seashell found on the beach
• an insect stuck in amber

In which kind of rock do we usually find a fossil?

• sedimentary  rock
• metamorphic rock
• igneous rock
• rock and roll

In order for a fossil to form, which of the following events must happen FIRST?

• Slowly, minerals in the water replace the bone.
• Sediment covers the bone.
• An animal dies.
• The bone is no longer a bone, but a rock copy.

Why are there more animal fossils than plant fossils?

• Animals eat plants.
• Plants are smaller than animals.
• Plants have softer body parts than animals. 
• There were more ancient animals than ancient plants.

A fossil animal has a mouth full of sharp, pointed teeth.  What can you infer about the animal?

• The animal ate fruits and vegetables.
• The animal is closely related to a shark.
• The animal did not live on land.
• The animal ate meat.

If scientists found this fossil, what could they infer?

• what fish are like today
• that this fish lacked oxygen
• what kind of animal ate this fish
• that water once covered the area

When a plant or animal no longer exists, it is ____________________.

• fossil
• imprint
• extinct
• cast

Why do bones and teeth remain as part of some fossils?

• they are white
• bones are large
• the parts are hard 
• bones decay easily