Taphonomy Images

The fossils paleontologists find represent only a partial picture of life in the past. Why?
A variety of marine organisms

All kinds of organisms live and die in their own environments.
Some resist destruction

Only some of the remains of organisms that die resist destruction from environmental and biological factors.
A few become fossils

Of those that remain, only a few will resist destruction long enough to become fossils.
Some are destroyed

Some fossils will be destroyed by Earth's forces, leaving even less evidence of life in the past.
Only some are found and studied

Of those fossils that do exist, only some will be found and studied.