Fossil Tracks

Fossil Tracks. . Fossils are remnants of ancient plants and animals preserved in stone. They provide the evidence scientists use to describe the past history of life on earth., Fossils come in two types: some are petrified remains of an organism, like bones or wood; others are mere impressions, traces left behind by creatures long vanished, like footprints in a sequence called a trackway. Fossil bones provide scientists with many specific details about size and shape, the structure or anatomy of an animal. Fossil trackways are clues to how an animal moved and behaved, evidence for a way of life that bones could never reveal., Captions , Lower Center: These tracks were made by an animal called Pleurocoelus, a type of sauropod related to brontosaurs. It had big, flat hindfeet with four claws, and small, hoof-like forefect without claws. From skeletons, scientists know it had peg-like teeth for grinding up plant food. It could travel on land about 2.7 miles per hour., Lower Right: This track was made by a two-footed animal called Acrocanthosaurus, a type of carnosaur related to tyrannosaurs. Its feet had three clawed toes. From skeletons, scientists know it had razor-sharp teeth for cutting through flesh. It could travel about 5 miles per hour.