Footprints from the Past: The Trace Fossils Quiz

If body fossils only show what an animal looked like, then we have to guess what they did. If trace fossils record walking, eating, or nesting, then they show the animal's actual actions while it was alive.

If an animal moves through sediment to create a hole for living or traveling, then it is a trace fossil. If that hole is a tunnel, then the scientific name for that specific trace is a burrow.

If mud is soft, then an animal can leave an impression. If the mud dries and is buried quickly, then the shape is saved. Sand blows away and hard rock won't take a print.

If an animal eats meat, then its waste may contain bits of bone or scales. If these bits are found inside a coprolite, then we know the animal ate meat. Therefore, the statement is true.

If an animal builds a nest and lays eggs there, then it is creating a home for offspring. If it stays near the nest, then it exhibits parental care behavior.

If we see two tracks, then the animal walked on two legs. If we measure the print, then we know the foot size. If we see sharp marks at the tips, then it had claws. Eye color is not recorded in mud.

If an animal leaves a footprint in mud, then the mark stays in that spot. If the mud hardens into rock, then the fossil stays where the behavior happened. Therefore, they show where the animal lived.

If a fossil is a bone, then it is a body fossil. If a fossil shows something an animal did, like walking or digging, then it is a trace fossil. Therefore, evidence of activity is the correct definition.

If a predator bites a bone, then it leaves a mark. If we find that mark, then we know one animal was trying to eat another. Therefore, it shows predator-prey behavior and diet.

If an animal digs a hole in the ground (a burrow), then it is usually looking for shelter. If it is in shelter, then it is likely hiding from predators or sleeping. Therefore, a burrow indicates protective behavior.

If a skull or bone is part of the animal's body, then it is a body fossil. If a footprint is a mark left behind while the animal was alive and moving, then it is a trace fossil.

If a tooth is a physical part of the animal's skeleton, then it is a body fossil. If trace fossils are only marks left behind (like footprints), then a tooth does not fit the category.

If a fossil is a mark or structure made by an animal (tracks, nests, bite marks), then it is a trace fossil. If it contains the actual animal (like a baby in an egg), then it is a body fossil.

If an object is heavy, then it pushes down harder on the ground. If it pushes harder on soft mud, then the footprint will be deeper. Therefore, depth can indicate the animal's weight.

If many animals of the same species leave tracks in the same direction at the same time, then they were likely moving together. If they move together, then they exhibit social or herding behavior.

If we measure the distance between footprints (stride length), then we can calculate speed. If the footprints are far apart, then the animal was likely running. Therefore, trace fossils provide data on speed.

If an animal moves continuously across a surface, then it leaves a line of marks. If these marks are preserved in rock, then they are referred to as a trackway.

If a person goes to school to learn how to find and identify ancient life in rocks, then they earn a specific title. If that title is for the study of fossils, then it is a paleontologist.

If we find fossilized waste, then it is a record of a biological process rather than a body part. If scientists name this specific trace fossil, then they use the term "coprolite."

If a heavy tail touches the ground while an animal walks, then it leaves a long groove. If this groove is preserved with the footprints, then it is called a tail drag.