Fossils
The study of fossils is important for understanding the history and evolution of life on Earth. For example, we wouldn’t know that dinosaurs existed if we didn’t have fossil evidence!
Palaeontology is the study of remains, or fossils, of past animal and plant life. This is can vary widely from coral and fish to plants and mammals.
Fossils can range in ages from a few thousand years to millions of years old and by studying them we can uncover the environment they lived in as well as understand how Earth’s climate has changed. Fossils are also key to understanding the several extinction events in Earth’s history as well as the evolution, variation and emergence of different species.
How are fossils formed?
How does a Megalodon tooth become a fossil?
WHAT IS A MEGALODON?
With sizes up to 10 metres long, the megalodon was the biggest shark to have ever lived (in fact scientists think it was also one of the largest fish to have ever existed too). Megalodon teeth could reach up to 18 cm long. Did you know that ‘Megalodon’ literally means large tooth?. You can explore a megalodon tooth using the 3D model below. What features can you spot?
Want to know more about the megalodon? There’s a great article on the Natural History Museum website with lots more information to discover here.
How does an ammonite become a fossil?
WHAT IS AN Ammonite?
Ammonites were squid like creatures living in the sea inside spiral shells. They went extinct at the same time as the dinosaurs, approximately 65 million years ago. Fossilised ammonite shells can now be found all over the world, the biggest shell found was almost 2m wide!
You can read more about the ammonites here.
Trilobite
This trilobite exoskeleton has been preserved almost unchanged so you can see lots of great detail on this fossil, even its eyes.
Trilobites used to live in the sea, crawling along the bottom of the sea floor, and came in all shapes and sizes. They became extinct around 250 million years ago.
You can find out more about the trilobites here.