fossil record

Cultural  

1. A term used by paleontologists (see paleontology) to refer to the total number of fossils that have been discovered, as well as to the information derived from them. (See evolution of Earth.)

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Example Sentences

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fossil record

According to Anderson, one of the greatest problems is simply that the fossil record from this period remains poorly sampled.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 2026

Frogs, toads, and salamanders have delicate skeletons that do not fossilize easily, so their remains are uncommon in the fossil record outside asphaltic sites such as La Brea Tar Pits.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026

The same fragility may also mean that many extinct reptiles and amphibians have disappeared from the fossil record entirely.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026

Major gaps in the fossil record have left long stretches of their early history almost invisible.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 19, 2026

I consoled myself with Granddaddy’s words on the fossil record and the Book of Genesis: It was more important to understand something than to like it.

From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly