Fossils have been discovered on every continent and are found all over the world. You wouldn’t believe it, but sea creature fossils have been discovered on the summit of Mount Everest!
Fossilization isn’t limited to animals. You can even find fossilized poo! Coprolites are the scientific name for these particles. Scientists have even discovered Tyrannosaurus Rex skeletons with their own coprolites. Somehow, fossilized dinosaur poop is exciting.
You may be wondering where the term “fossil” came from and what it means. Its name is derived from the Latin word “fossus,” which means “dug up.” When the term “fossil” first appeared in the 1600s, it had the same meaning. In 1736, it came to signify “kept remnants.”
It’s true that certain fossils resemble bones, but this isn’t the case. Fossils are created from rock that is shaped exactly like the object that existed at the time. The item will be buried beneath the sediment. This is then compressed, resulting in sedimentary rock. Water will then enter the bones, turning them into a rock as it leaves behind minerals.
We are extremely fortunate to have found the ones we have! This is due to the fact that bones decay quickly once an animal dies, leaving nothing to fossilize. It only works when they are buried fast, allowing little oxygen to reach them. Thanks to fossils, we know that some of the crocodile cousins were herbivores. The incredible diversity of life on our planet can be demonstrated through fossil records, such as the fact that some crocodile relatives were herbivores. Another crocodile was barely 20 inches long and looked so much like a cat that it was given the name “cat crocodile.”