Paleontologists estimate that fewer than 10% of all the organisms alive today will be preserved as fossils.

Remember, not all types of organisms preserve well.

Insects make up a very large percentage of all animals, but very few of them are likely to be preserved as fossils.

On the other hand, organisms like vertebrates will leave a more complete record of their existence, even though they are less abundant.

Paleontologists keep this in mind when interpreting fossil evidence so that they can get a more accurate picture of life in the past.