Funky Fossils

You can’t go to a natural history museum without seeing at least one enormous dinosaur skeleton on display. Although fossils of dinosaurs like T. rex are huge attractions, scientists have found fossils of many other things—some of which may surprise you!

If you’ve ever been to a natural history museum, you’ve probably seen an enormous dinosaur skeleton on display. Fossils of dinosaurs like T. rex are a popular attraction. But scientists have also found fossils of many other things—some of which may surprise you! 

“A fossil is the remains of something that was once alive, plant or animal,” says paleontologist Mike Benton of the University of Bristol.

Typically, a fossil of a skeleton forms when an animal dies and its bones are covered with small particles called sediment. As time passes, the sediment around the bone turns to rock, and the bone dissolves. This leaves behind a mold that fills with minerals. The minerals harden in the shape of the original bone, forming a fossil. But if conditions are just right, fossils of more fragile material can be preserved too—from feathers to fish scales to poop!

“A fossil is the remains of something that was once alive, plant or animal,” says Mike Benton. He’s a paleontologist at the University of Bristol in England. 

Fossils typically form when an animal dies and its skeleton is covered with sediment such as sand or mud. As time passes, the sediment around the bone turns to rock. The bone dissolves, leaving behind a bone-shaped mold. This cavity gradually fills with minerals. The minerals harden in the shape of the original bone, forming a fossil.

Most fossils are bones. But if conditions are just right, fossils of more fragile material can be preserved too. Scientists have found fossils of everything from feathers to fish scales to poop!

“Finding a good fossil isn’t hard as long as you do your homework,” explains Benton. Sedimentary rocks, like limestones and sandstones, of the right age can produce excellent fossils anywhere in the world.

Benton would know. He’s part of a team that has been studying fossils of feathered dinosaurs from China. Last year, they found tiny flakes near the feathers of one fossil, which turned out to be dandruff. This discovery confirms that these dinosaurs were more birdlike than reptilian. “This was a fun find,” he says.

“Finding a good fossil isn’t hard as long as you do your homework,” explains Benton. Scientists look for rocks that form from sediment, like limestones and sandstones. If the rocks are the right age, there are often fossils in them, no matter where they are in the world.

Benton would know. He’s part of a team that has been studying fossils of feathered dinosaurs from China. Last year, they found tiny flakes near the feathers of one fossil. It turned out to be dandruff! It showed that these dinosaurs shed their skin more like birds than like reptiles. “This was a fun find,” he says.