Subfossil

Subfossil

Subfossil refers to remains whose fossilization process is not complete, either for lack of time or because the condition in which they were buried were not optimal for fossilization.

Subfossil remains that date back into the Mesozoic are exceptionally rare, usually in an advanced state of decay and consequently much disputed . The vast bulk of the material comes from Quaternary deposits.

The main importance of subfossil vs. fossil remains is that the former contain organic material, which can be used for radiocarbon dating or extraction and sequencing of DNA, protein, or other biomolecules. Additionally, isotope ratios can provide much information about the ecological conditions under which extinct animals lived.


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  • Subfossil — Stromatolithe gehören zu den ältesten bekannten Fossilien. An diesen proterozoischen Stromatolithen aus den östlichen Anden von Bolivien ist der feinlagige Aufbau deutlich zu erkennen …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • subfossil — sub|fos|sil 〈Adj.〉 erst in historischer Zeit ausgestorben [<sub... + fossil] * * * subfossil,   Bezeichnung für Lebewesen, die in historischer Zeit ausstarben. Pleistozäne Fossilien gelten als subfossil, wenn sie rezenten Formen phänotypisch… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • subfossil — adjective Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary Date: 1832 of less than typical fossil age but partially fossilized < subfossil bones > • subfossil noun …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • subfossil — I. “+ adjective Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary sub + fossil : of less than typical fossil age though not strictly recent : having lost the organic constituents (as fats and proteins) produced in vital activities but not yet having …   Useful english dictionary

  • subfossil — n. * * * …   Universalium

  • subfossil — 1. adjective Partially fossilized. 2. noun A partially fossilized organism …   Wiktionary

  • subfossil — sub|fos|sil 〈Adj.; Biol.〉 erst in histor. Zeit ausgestorben …   Lexikalische Deutsches Wörterbuch

  • subfossil — sub|fos|sil <zu ↑sub... u. ↑fossil> in geschichtlicher Zeit ausgestorben (von Tieren u. Pflanzen; Biol.) …   Das große Fremdwörterbuch

  • subfossil — sub·fossil …   English syllables

  • subfossil — sub|fos|sil <lateinisch> (Biologie in geschichtlicher Zeit ausgestorben) …   Die deutsche Rechtschreibung

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