Fossil Park

Mass extinctions and fossils

Mass extinction occurs when 40 % or more of the living plant and animal species become extinct within a short period. Mass extinctions occur on a world-wide scale, and there have been several mass extinctions in the history of the Earth. In fact, scientists believe, that based on fossil records, about 99 % of species that ever lived are now extinct. How many mass extinctions were there? Do this activity to find out!

The fossilisation process

Fossils are the remains of prehistoric plants and animals. Fossils tell us about life on earth which is now extinct (no longer there). Learn about different types of rocks and in which ones the process of fossilization would occur.

Blast from the past

Many animals, now extinct, lived in the forests in the area between Saldanha Bay and St Helena Bay. Find out what these animals were and why they are not living in this area today!

Geological time activity

About 4.8 billion years ago the fireball that was Earth cooled sufficiently to form a solid crust. Since this time the world’s mountains have built up and eroded down many times; the continents have broken up and moved across the face of Earth, and plants and animals have changed many times. This activity looks at the geological history of earth and the organisms found within each time frame.

Create a travel brochure

Prepare a travel brochure that targets overseas tourists. Many overseas visitors are more inclined to visit the more popular sites such as Table Mountain and the Kruger National Park. Create a brochure to encourage and inspire tourists to visit the West Coast Fossil Park in the Western Cape as well.

Crossword

Test your knowledge of the West Coast Fossil Park while doing this fun crossword!

Beliefs about the origins of life

It is impossible to repeat the exact events of the origin of life in any demonstrable way. Scientists have replicated some of the events thought to have occurred during the Big Bang. Learn what the major theories accounting for the origin of life on Earth are.

Evolutionary detectives

The earliest amphibian is over 370 million years old, whereas reptile fossils date back to around 320 million years. It is remarkable to note, that despite millions of years, the appearance or habits of reptiles such as crocodiles and turtles have not changed very much. These ancient animals not only roamed the planet with the dinosaurs, but are still living today, long after dinosaurs became extinct. Become an evolutionary detective to help answer why this is so!

Evidence at fossil park of Darwin’s evolutionary theory

Charles Darwin (1809-1882) had ideas about how life on Earth evolved and was fascinated by the amount of variation that occurs within a genus and species. An example is the variation within the Langebaanweg hyenas (Family: Hyaenidae). Evidence supporting this theory can be seen in fossils from the West Coast Fossil Park. Learn more about the Langebaanweg hyenas.

Lamarck versus Darwin’s evolutionary theory

The theory of evolution emerges from different lines of evidence, such as fossil records, modification by descent, and the evidence from biogeography, genetics and other forms of evidence. Jean-Baptiste Lamarck and Charles Darwin had different theories about how life on earth got to be the way it is now. Find out more about their theories.