Fossil Identifier: Free Photo Identification
Snap or upload a photo of any fossilized shell, tooth, leaf imprint, or bone to determine what fossil is this in seconds.
Drop your rock photo here to identify for free
Snap or upload any rock, crystal, mineral, or stone. Our AI analyzes texture, color, and cleavage instantly.
What Fossil Is This? Instant Photo Fossil Identification
Fossils are the preserved remains, impressions, or traces of prehistoric living organisms embedded in sedimentary rock strata. If you are asking what fossil is this, our fossil identifier checks biological symmetry, septal suture patterns, ribbing, tooth serrations, and cellular replacement. From spiral ammonite shells and segmented trilobites to Cretaceous shark teeth and petrified wood logs, our AI quickly matches your discovery against known paleontological records.
What Kind of Fossil Is This? Types of Preservation
To identify what kind of fossil is this, understand the primary modes of preservation: Permineralization (petrified wood and dinosaur bones where silica or calcite filled cellular pores), Casts and Molds (hollow cavities left by shells replaced by sediment), Carbonization (delicate carbon film imprints of leaves and fish), and Trace Fossils (fossilized footprints, burrows, and coprolites).
How to Tell If a Fossil Is Real (Vs. Carved Stone or Cast Resin)
Cellular Bone Porosity Inspection
Genuine fossilized bone features a porous, spongy interior trabecular structure visible with a 10x loupe. Cast resin replicas or carved rocks have smooth, non-porous solid cross sections.
Enamel vs. Root Mineralization
Real fossil shark teeth feature a shiny, smooth enamel crown contrasting with a dull, highly porous mineralized root. Fake molded teeth are made of uniform resin without texture change.
Hot Needle Burn Test
Touch an inconspicuous corner with a red-hot sewing needle. Genuine stone fossils will not melt or smell. Fake plastic or resin replicas will soften and emit an acrid chemical smoke.
Sedimentary Matrix Contact
Authentic fossils are naturally fused into their sedimentary rock matrix. Fake fossils sold by tourist markets often have visible glue lines or artificial cement around the edges.
Common Fossil Specimens
| Specimen Name | Category | Key Identification Trait |
|---|---|---|
| Ammonite Fossil | Extinct Cephalopod | Spiral coiled chambered shell with intricate frilled suture lines; Mesozoic era. |
| Trilobite | Marine Arthropod | Three-lobed segmented exoskeleton with faceted compound eyes; Paleozoic era. |
| Megalodon / Shark Tooth | Chondrichthyes | Glossy triangular enamel crown with serrated cutting edges and porous root. |
| Petrified Wood | Permineralized Flora | Original tree bark and annual tree rings completely replaced by colorful chalcedony. |