Macrofossil 3166165 205031724 2008-04-11T23:58:39Z 69.226.16.188 m '''Macrofossils''' (occasionally spelled "'''macro-fossil'''") are preserved [[life|organic]] remains large enough to be visible without a [[microscope]]. Most fossils discussed in the article [[Fossil]] are macrofossils. [[Image:Petrified Araucaria cone from patagonia-Edit3.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Petrified cone of ''Araucaria'' sp. from [[Patagonia]], [[Argentina]] dating from the [[Jurassic|Jurassic Period]] (approx. 210 mya)]] == Macrofossil contrasted with Microfossil == The term '''macrofossil''' stands in opposition to the term [[microfossil|''micro''fossil]] (a.k.a. "micro-fossil"). Microfossils, by contrast, require substantial magnification for evaluation by [[fossil]]-hunters or professional [[paleontology|paleontologist]]s. As a result, most fossils observed in the [[field research|field]] and most "[[museum]]-quality" specimens are macrofossils. [[Image:Priscacara-liops.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Eocene fossil fish ''Priscacara liops'' from [[Green River Formation]] of Utah]] ==Plant macrofossils== [[Plantae|Plant]] macrofossils include [[leaf]], [[Pinophyta|needle]], [[Conifer cone|cone]], and [[plant stem|stem]] debris; and can be used to identify types of plants formerly growing in the area. Such [[Botany|botanical]] macrofossil data provide a valuable complement to [[pollen]] and [[fauna]]l data that can be used to reconstruct the [[prehistoric life|prehistoric]] [[Earth|terrestrial]] environment. [[Algae|Algal]] macrofossils (for instance, brown [[kelp]], [[sea lettuce]] and large [[stromatolite]]s) are increasingly used to analyze prehistoric [[Marine (ocean)|marine]] and [[aquatic ecosystem]]s. == Animal macrofossils== [[Animalia|Animal]] macrofossils include the [[teeth]], [[skull]]s, and [[bone]]s of [[Vertebrata|vertebrate]]s, as well as such [[invertebrate]] remains as [[Animal shell|shell]]s, [[test (biology)|test]]s, [[armour (zoology)|faunal armor]], and [[exoskeleton]]s. Fossilized dung (that is, [[coprolite]]s) are also macrofossils. Most [[Category:Fossils]] {{paleo-stub}}