The Paleontology of North America

Trace Fossils from North America

> Invertebrate traces | Vertebrate Traces | Plant Traces | Unknown Traces

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Skolithos
Skolithos
© 2003 Thomas Kammer

"Anthracosaur"
"Anthracosaur"
© 2001 Richard Schrantz

Oldhamia
Oldhamia
© 2003 Roland Gangloff, University of Alaska Museum

What are Trace Fossils? Trace fossils include any impression or other preserved sign of activity (for example, feeding, scratching, burrowing, walking, or resting). Many animals, plants, protists, and bacteria have left their traces in the fossil record. These can be tubes, lines, scratches, or other features. They have various characteristics, such as types of symmetry or resemblance to traces made by modern organisms, that indicate they were most likely made by an organism. In some cases, such as dinosaur footprints or certain shrimp burrows, it may be possible to say what group of animal made a particular trace. However, unless a body fossil of the organism is preserved with the trace fossil, determining who made the trace is usually difficult. Because of this, trace fossils are described and given their own names, regardless of whether they match up with a particular organism. Trace fossils most often were created in soft sediments, and are usually preserved only if the sediment remains undisturbed until it has become rock. Trace fossils have been found in rocks as far back as the Late Precambrian.

First known fossil occurrence: Precambrian.

Last known fossil occurrence: Quaternary. This group has living relatives.

Fossils through time:
Choose a time period to see what life was like:

Quaternary
Tertiary
Cretaceous
Jurassic
Triassic
Permian
Carboniferous
Devonian
Silurian
Ordovician
Cambrian
Precambrian