What kind of fossil do you think this is? How old is it?
How do scientists determine their age?
Why are these fossils important in the study of paleontology?
Answers:
What kind of fossil do you think this is? How old is it?
This is an ammonite, which was excavated from France! An ammonite is an extinct group of marine mollusks that lived from the Devonian period (around 400 million years ago) to the end of the Cretaceous period (about 65 million years ago). They belong to the class Cephalopoda, which includes modern-day squids, octopuses, and nautiluses. Ammonites had a coiled, spiral-shaped shell that consisted of chambers divided by walls called septa. These shells were often beautifully ornamented with intricate patterns and ridges. The size of ammonites varied greatly, ranging from a few centimeters to several meters in diameter, depending on the species.
How do scientists determine their age?
The most common way to determine an ammonite's age is through biostratigraphy, which is a way for scientists to figure out the age of rocks by studying the fossils found in them. By looking at the types of fossils in different layers of rock, they can tell which layers are older or younger and learn about the history of life on Earth.
Why are these fossils important in the study of paleontology?
Ammonite fossils are important to paleontology because they help scientists learn about Earth's history and the creatures that lived long ago. These fossils tell us about the different time periods and environments they lived in, and by studying them, scientists can understand how life evolved and changed over millions of years. Ammonite fossils also help scientists figure out the ages of rocks and create a timeline of events in Earth's past. They're like tiny time capsules that give us a glimpse into the amazing diversity of ancient marine life.
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