FOSSILS and PAST LIFE Aim--- Background Information--- Equipment--- Method—Part A--- Obtain a set of fossils from your teacher. Examine each fossil carefully using a magnifying glass. Be careful not to damage the specimen. Record the following information about each specimen: Whether the fossil is a vertebrate, invertebrate or plant Whether the fossil is a mould, a cast (natural or artificial), print, actual remains or changed hard parts The phylum of the organism The geological period during which the organism lived The type of environment in which the organism lived The parts that have been preserved. Results--- Discussion--- What types of animal were the first vertebrates? In what type of environment did they live? How many millions of years ago did they live? Terrestrial (land) vertebrates include the mammals, reptiles and amphibians. What were the first land vertebrates? From where might these vertebrates have evolved? What are the oldest rocks that could contain fossils of birds? Which parts of vertebrates would you expect to be preserved well? What features of the Late Devonian amphibian in Fig. 2 suggest that it is related to fishes? What features of this amphibian suggest that it was from an aquatic environment? Compare the Late Devonian amphibian (Fig. 2) with the amphibian from the Jurassic period (Fig. 3). How are the two amphibians similar? How do the two amphibians differ? What can be inferred from these similarities and differences? What other vertebrate group do you think could have descended from the amphibians? Why? Why is Archaeoptryx classed as a bird? In what does Archaeoptryx resemble some dinosaurian reptiles? How does the skeleton of Archaeoptryx differ from that of a modern bird? Archaeoptryx is an example of a ‘missing link’ in the fossil record. What...