Trace Fossils

2 Pages 537 Words

Dinosaur Trace Fossils (http://www.emory.edu/COLLEGE/ENVS/research
/ichnology/dinotraces.html), a website created by Emory University Environmental Science professor Dr. Anthony J. Martin, discusses trace fossils and the case they present as indirect evidence of ancient life.
Dr. Martin possesses a B.S. in geobiology (St. Josephs College), a M.S. in geology (Miami University-Ohio), and a Ph.D. in geology (University of Georgia). He has authored over 25 publications over the past three years. Due to his extensive education, widespread research and professional publications, Dr. Martin’s credibility and expertise appears to be extremely trustworthy.
The purpose of Dr. Martin’s website is to give a brief summary of dinosaur trace fossils to supplement paleontological information already given by dinosaur body fossils. First and foremost, dinosaur trace fossils are represented by tracks, tooth marks, eggs, nests, gastroliths, and coprolites. This website breaks down each individual trace fossil with descriptions, pictures and research findings. The remainder of this paper will discuss a few of these trace fossils and how paleontologists use the evidence presented by each to make interpretations about dinosaurs.
First, impressions left by a foot in a sediment or other substrate, known as tracks, present evidence to paleontologists whether dinosaurs traveled on two rear feet (bipedal) or four feet (quadrupedal). Furthermore, dinosaurs can be classified as obligate biped, obligate quadruped, facultative biped or facultative quadruped. Obligate biped implies that a dinosaur walked on two feet for most of its life, while obligate quadruped entails they spent most of their life on four feet. Additionally, facultative biped/obligate quadruped dinosaurs were capable of walking on two feet, but spent most of their time on four feet. Accordingly, facultative quadruped/obligate biped dinosaurs were capable of walking on four feet...