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Overview
Discover the world of the past through the fossils that were left behind. From fossils found in Argentina to those found in the United States, this book explores how paleontologists, scientists who study fossils, use the fossils they find to understand what Earth was like millions of years ago and what kinds of plants and animals inhabited it.Presents information on fossils, including how different types are formed, how they have been used to date periods in Earth's history, and major areas of the world where fossil hunting is going on today.
Editorials
Children's Literature
Scientists say that more than seventy percent of all of the land animals and eighty-five percent of all sea creatures that have ever lived on Earth are extinct. How then do scientists even know they existed at all? The answer lies in fossils. What to some may look like patterned pieces of rock is a clue to a paleontologist about what life was like on Earth thousands, even millions, of years ago. There are three main types of fossils, each one giving a different clue. Body fossils are the remains of animals that have been preserved in rock. Trace fossils, such as bite marks or footprints, give scientist an idea of how animals lived. Coprolites are animal droppings and have information on what animals ate. This kind of information is found in this book, one of the "Watts Library" books about earth science. Information that could be difficult and hard to understand is made simple without being condescending. The book is filled with photographs that illustrate the prehistoric animals and fossils mentioned. It also has a glossary, an index and a list of text and Internet sources. This is an excellent resource for young paleontologists. 2003, Franklin Watts/Scholastic,— Heather Robertson
Book Details
Published
March 1, 2003
Publisher
Franklin Watts
Pages
64
Format
Binding
ISBN
9780531121962