Vocabulary
The remains or traces of a plant or animal that lived long ago
Fossil
The number of eras on the geological time scale
4
Causes dust and ash in the air causing a lack of sunlight which plants and then animals die out
Volcanic eruptions
Relative age
these fossils help identify a very short period of time
Index fossils
A model of an organism, formed when sediment fills the mold and hardens
Cast
Which era is the age of the fishes
Paleozoic era
True or false
Volcanos, too much rain, no rain or a meteor could all result in a mass extinction
True
Index fossil
When the Earth had one large continent
Pangaea
When the only evidence left of an organism are the footprints
Trace Fossil
In which era did the Earth finally have all 7 continents
Cenozoic Era
Large events caused by climate change
Why is it important for scientists to draw each symbol representing the fossil carefully?
To ensure the scientists don't get confused
Flowering plants and grasses appeared before
the ice age
This is made up of all of the fossils in Earth's layers
Fossil record
How many years did it take for Pangaea to move to the 7 continents?
477 million years
This causes flooding and habitats become destroyed
What animal do scientists study that prove the continental drift
Mesosaurus
The era of the dinosaurs
Mesozoic Era
Forms when minerals replace the plant material in a piece of wood
Petrified Wood
Name all 4 eras from oldest to youngest
Precambrian time
Paleozoic Era
Mesozoic Era
Cenozoic Era
This happened creating the Gulf of Mexico, causing mass devastation to all life during this time period
Meteor impact
What can you conclude about a fossil that lives in many rock layers?
The organism lived for a geologically long period of time
What are the 4 requirements that make up Index Fossils?
1. lived in short period of time
2. must have had large population
3. must be widespread
4. must be easily recognized