fossils and extinction

extinction → when there are no remaining individuals of species

factors

• new predator

• new disease/pathogen

• inc. competition for resources or mates

• catastrophic events e.g volcano/earthquakes →

• changes to the environment e.g climate change/destruction of habitats

1. animal dies and falls to ground

2. flesh decay, leaving skeleton to be covered by soil and clay, before its destroyed

3. protected, over millions of years the skeleton becomes minerals and turns into rocks. the rocks shift in the earth with the fossils trapped inside

4. eventually, the fossil emerges as the rocks move and erosion takes place