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Animal fossils

Animal Fossil Info: The most common kind of animal fossils are those resulting from the mineralization of shells or bones. Other parts of the animal’s body are usually recycled by decomposers and never make it to the fossil stage. Only about 1/10 of the species living today are made up of tissues and live in habitats that make it possible for fossilization to occur. Animal fossils are only formed in areas with unusually good conditions for preservation that allow the more biodegradable parts to be preserved and represent an accurate depiction of the variety of species alive during that time. (Article: An Introduction to Animal Fossils)

The Record of Fossils Animals: The first animals appeared 600 million years ago during the early Cambrian Period (Article: The Geologic Record of Animal Fossils)

Why are Animal Fossils Rare: It has been estimated that 99% of any plant or animal species that ever existed is extinct now and never left a trace in the fossil record. (Article: The Rarity of Animal Fossils and Formation of Animal Fossils)

Animal Fossils Links Page

Ungulate Skull of South American Ungulate

 

Irish Deer Irish Deer- Pleistocene

An interesting article on the Irish Deer

Sirenian Anscestor of the Manatee from the Oligocene

Animal Fossils Photo Gallery


Animal fossils map

Animal Fossil Localities
La Brea Tar Pits
Calvert Cliffs Maryland
Mazon Creek
Green River Shale
Morrison Formation
Florissant Fossil Beds

Article: Animal Fossil Localities

Sources for Animal Fossil Aricles

   

Ammonite Fossil
Animal Fossils
Crinoid Fossils
Fish Fossils
Fossil Teeth
Petrified Wood
Plant Fossils
Trilobite Fossils
State Fossil Information


Wooly Mammoth
Saber Tooth Cat

Dinosaur Eggs
Dinosaur Footprints
Dinosaur Bones
Tyrannosaurus rex

Agate Fossil Beds
Burgess Shale
Dinosaur National Monument
Florissant Fossil Beds
Fossil Butte National Monument
Green River Shale
Hagermann Fossil Beds
John Day Fossil Beds
La Brea Tar Pits
Mississippi Petrified Forest
Morrision Formation
Petrified Forest National Park