Precambrian
first era of geologic time; origin of the earth
paleozoic
second era of geologic time known for age of fishes and rise of reptiles
mesozoic
third era of geologic time known as the age of dinosaurs
cenozoic
current era of geologic time see the rise of mammals and modern man
triassic
first period of the mesozoic era dinosaurs first appear
jurassic
second period of the mesozoic era
cretaceous
last period of the mesozoic era dinosaurs and many other life forms become extinct at the end of this period
replacement
process of fossil formation when the original material is replaced by mineral deposits
carbon imprint
process of fossil formation that occurs as the original object is compressed to mleave an imprint made of carbon
trace fossils
these are not the remains of animals but burrows footprints and evidence of feeding
coprolite
fossilized dinosaur dung
ornithischians
bird-hipped dinosaurs
saurischians
lizard hipped dinosaurs