Distinguish between the fossils of ice age mammals found in the La Brea Tar Pits and the organisms that make up the fossil fuels of the tar.

1 answer

The fossils of ice age mammals found in the La Brea Tar Pits are the remains of animals that lived during the last glacial period, which occurred approximately 2.5 million to 11,700 years ago. These fossils are the preserved bones, teeth, and other hard tissue of large mammals such as saber-toothed cats, mammoths, and dire wolves.

On the other hand, the organisms that make up the fossil fuels of the tar are primarily ancient marine organisms such as diatoms, algae, and plankton. These organisms died millions of years ago and their remains were buried under sediment and compressed over time, creating oil and gas deposits that are extracted for use as fuel.

In summary, the fossils of ice age mammals found in the La Brea Tar Pits are the remains of terrestrial animals that lived relatively recently, while the organisms that make up the fossil fuels of the tar are ancient marine organisms that were transformed over millions of years through natural geological processes.