Fossil

Fossils are the preserved remains of a prehistoric plant or animal, encased in rock over thousands of years. Fossils in the Animal Crossing series can be found on occasion around the player's town, buried under the soil with a tell-tale crack in the ground above it. Unidentified fossils can be dug up with a shovel; after which it can be taken to the museum or mailed away for identification, sold, placed in a house, or discarded.

In Animal Crossing, the fossils must each be individually mailed to a lab that is outside the player's town for identification. In Animal Crossing: Wild World & Animal Crossing: City Folk, it can be identified by Blathers, the curator, free of charge. Upon being identified, it can be donated or returned to the Player's inventory. In Wild World, there are 52 fossils to be collected, all forming a part of a dinosaur, early mammal or an entire, smaller, fossil. After being completed, Blathers gives a small but interesting talk on the finished fossil, while the fossil itself has its scientific name and the period in history that it lived in written next to the exhibit.

On average, you can find three fossils in your town per day. However, if your town is overrun with weeds or covered with patterns, this leaves less space for a fossil to be underground (a fossil can't be under rocks, where a flower or tree is, etc.) and you may not find some or any that day. Other items may also be buried underground.

Fossils may also be displayed in your house and provide large boosts for HRA scoring. Stand alone fossils (trilobite, egg, amber etc) provide small boosts, skulls provide a big boost and a completed skeleton gives the highest.

Complete Fossil list
In addition to price, size and HRA bonus, this section gives Blathers' speech when the completed fossil is donated to the museum. As furniture, all fossils have either Old School (WW) or Retro (CF) genres.

Ankylosaurus
Ankylosaurus is a three-part fossil. Upon donation in Wild World, Blathers will tell you: ''This marvelous herbivore was covered in spikes from head to back, eh wot? I challenge you to find a more perfectly protected body! You shan't succeed! Not only that, but this great beast could also swing its hammerlike tail! Hoo, this allowed it to attack as well as defend. With an attack like that... Why, any carnivore would likely think twice about snacking on this fellow! Ah! Forgive my babbling. It's that tail, you see. One can't help but rave!''

Apatosaurus
Apatosaurus is a three-part fossil. Upon donation in Animal Crossing, Blathers will tell you: ''At long last... Apatosaurus is complete! Tremendous! Striking! Massive in every sense of the word! Hoo, I say, hootie hoo! What a truly glorious find! My cup runneth over! Now let me see here... Where shall I begin? Apatosaurus... Hmmm... It lived in the late Jurassic period, and was a member of the diplodocid family of long-necked sauropods. You may be more familiar with the name brontosaurus, though that is a separate species of the same genus. It grew to some 70 feet in length. It had a small head, a long, thick neck, and an amazing whip-like tail, wot! Cra-ack! Whup-pshh! Oh, dear! Awfully sorry! I was envisioning myself with a massive tail! Hoo hoo!''

In Wild World he will say: ''The apatosaur was once called a brontosaur, I'll have you know. It is well known for having a rather long neck and tail and for being an herbivore. However, it appears that, unlike the giraffe, it could not make its neck vertical! Yes, blood flow, you see. If it straightened more than 90 degrees, it might faint! Ah. Hoo. Terribly sorry. If I kept speaking at that rate, I might have fainted!''

Dimetrodon
Dimetrodon is a three-part fossil.

Ichthyosaur
Ichthyosaur is a two-part fossil.

Iguanodon
Iguanodon is a three-part fossil. Upon donation in City Folk, Blathers will tell you: ''The spikes on the back are a characteristic of the iguanadon. When it was first found, it was actually thought to be a giant iguana because of the shape of its teeth. Indeed, that's how it got its name. It was also thought that it would fight off predators with its spikes... Any way one slices it, all signs point to this beast being one mobile, tough, herbivourous dinosaur!''

Mammoth
The Mammoth is a two-part fossil. Upon donation in Animal Crossing, Blathers will tell you: ''Will wonders never cease? Blathers, your eyes must be failing you... No! It IS true! The mammoth! It's complete! Hoo, I say! Hootie hoo! Phenomenal! Sensational! A truly grand occurrence! Welcome to cloud nine! Blathers, compose yourself... Now then, where to begin? Mammoths... Yes, mammoths... The wooliest of woolies... They are, of course mammals, and ones that lived much, much later than the dinosaurs, wot wot. Pleistocene earth was their home, and they are firmly established in our minds as creatures of the Ice Age. Mammoths ranged in height from 6 feet to 14 feet at the shoulder. The wooly mammoth is their most famous species. The last of the mammoths died out some 10,000 years ago, which coincides with the ascent of man. It is, perhaps, the first animal whose extinction was contributed to by man. Though certainly not the last. Humans can truly be the most thoughtless and callous of creatures when they think only of themselves! Hoo! I say again: HOO! Oh, dear! I wasn't referring to you personally. No offense intended. Temper, temper!''.

In Wild World, Blathers will say: ''It resembled an elephant and only became extinct a mere 10,000 years ago! This shaggy beast lived in the ice age and developed pronounced tusks, wot wot? Yes, it used them to scrape ice and snow to get to the plants that it fed on! Ah. Hoo. I'm so very sorry. I'm rather a mammoth blabbermouth myself, wot.''

Pachycephalosaurus
Pachycephalosaurus is a three-part fossil. Upon donation in City Folk, Blathers will tell you: ''...Hoo my! At long last, the pachycephalosaurus is complete! Hootie woo! The wonder of it all! Pachycephalosaurus roamed the earth right up until the end of the dinosaurs, wot? Its characteristic round skull boasted bone that was almost a foot thick... Quite thick indeed! But its head wasn't especially big...so it had little room for any brain...''

Parasaur
Parasaur - real name Parasaurolophus - is a three-part fossil.

Plesiosaur
Plesiosaur is a three-part fossil. Upon donation in Animal Crossing, Blathers will tell you: ''At last! At last! Huzzah! The plesiosaur is... complete! I never thought I would live to see this day! It’s fantastic! Brilliant! A wonderful, joyful occasion! Delight ripples through my body and soul! But I'm getting carried away. Now then, where shall I begin with these leviathans? The great plesiosaurs... In actuality, plesiosaurs were not dinosaurs, but aquatic reptiles, which ruled the seas during the Mesozoic era. There were two main types of plesiosaurs, both of which had broad bodies, four large flippers, and short tails. The two groups were distinct in that one had long necks and small heads, the other short necks and large heads. The plesiosaurs ranged in size from 8 to 46 feet long, and their diets consisted of fish and other marine creatures. The first plesiosaur fossil was discovered in 1824, and subsequent findings have been made on every continent. Incredible, eh wot? Indeed! What I wouldn't do to dig one up myself! The thrill! Where in blazes is my shovel? Hoo hoo hoo! Oh, my! I must beg your pardon. The very idea of field work gets my crumpets toasting!''

Pteranodon
Pteranodon is a four-part fossil.

Sabretooth Tiger
The Sabretooth Tiger is a two-part fossil. Upon donation in City Folk, Blathers will tell you: ''...We're witness to glory! The sabre-toothed tiger is finished! Hootie WOOTIE! Such an event this is! As the name suggests, these fellows had two big, swordlike teeth, and they were a part of the cat family. They could open their jaws 180 degrees, allowing them to penetrate the thick hides of their prey! Savage! They went extinct 10,000 years ago... likely because there wasn't enough to eat! The mammoths they hunted were all eaten by humans instead, eh wot? HOO! I...beg your pardon! I was so enthralled, I... I spouted hot air like a boiling teapot, eh wot?''

Seismosaur
Seismosaur is a four-part fossil. Upon donation in City Folk, Blathers will tell you: ''...Wait! Did the earth just move? Because the seismosaurus is complete! Hoo, what a mighty moment this is! The seismosaurus is the longest of all known dinosaurs, eh wot? Its body was small for its length, though, and rather light, as well... Proportionally, its brains were also rather light! HOO! I...beg your pardon! I was so enthralled, I... I spouted hot air like a boiling teapot, eh wot?''

Stegosaur
Stegosaurus is a three-part fossil. Upon donation in Animal Crossing, Blathers will tell you: ''Finally! The day has come! Our stegosaurus is complete! Dare I believe it? Might this not be some cruel dream? Nay, it is true, indeed! I say to you: HOOOO! Spectacular! Superb! My whole being thrills! Now then, where to begin? Much has been written about the noble stegosaurus... It was the largest of the plated dinosaurs, and lived during the late Jurassic period, wot wot. It is famous for the two rows of alternating, bony plates surmounting its body and its four formidable tail spikes. Ka-smash! Yes, that’s correct. It’s a tail-spike chop! Oh... Please pardon me! I was overcome with emotion.''

In Wild World, he will tell you: ''It emerged right around the middle of the era when dinosaurs roamed the earth. The diamond-shaped plates embedded along its back are actually made of bone, wot? Indeed, they were used to keep it cool and also to thwart its enemies. Ah. Hoo. Indeed, so srry. Stegosaurs never fail to set my beak blabbing!''

In City Folk, he will say: ''...It is done! Hootie hoo, the stegosaurus is all done! Absolutely spectacular! The stegosaurus appeared in the middle of the days of the dinosaurs. Its defining characteristics were the plates extending out of its back. These were actually bones, eh wot? They were used to regulate the beastie's body temperature, much as an elephant uses its ears. Its brain was so small, if you stomped its tail, it would not feel it for some time! Or so they say. HOO! I...beg your pardon! I was so enthralled I...I spouted hot air like a boiling teapot, eh wot?''

Styracosaurus
Styracosaurus is a three-part fossil, introduced in City Folk.

Triceratops
Triceratops is a three-part fossil. Upon donation in Animal Crossing, Blathers will tell you: ''Well now, if I'm not mistaken, I do believe this means... triceratops is complete! Hoo-WEE! Er, did I just say "hoo-wee"? Ugh. How terribly embarrassing, I sound like some blithering idiot. Let's move on, shall we? Here now... Where to begin? Triceratops... Yes... A member of the ornithischian order, this great beast flourished in the late Cretaceous period. It was a huge three-horned plant-eater, and grew up to 30 feet in length. That's 9 meters! Truly remarkable! Triceratops is easily recognized by its distinctive trio of horns and, of course, its parrot-like beak. Oh, and one mustn't forget the solid neck frill which provided it with fortification against giant predators. Triceratops was quite formidable indeed. In fact, it was one of the very last dinosaurs to suffer extinction. Oh, dear! Oh good gracious! Please, please forgive me. I tend to get a bit carried away. Dinosaurs, you know!''

In City Folk, he will say: ''...Stunning! The triceratops is done! Hoo, naught could make me happier! The triceratops was an herbivorous dino that lived until the end of the days of the dinosaurs. Its distinctive three horns and large collar belied its quiet nature. In actuality, the collarbone was the source of the beastie's mighty chewing power... But with powerful jaws like that, plus the horns, no carnivorous dino wanted a triceratops at its feet! HOO! I...beg your pardon! I was so enthralled, I... I spouted hot air like a boiling teapot, eh wot?''

Tyrannosaurus Rex
Tyrannosaurus Rex is a three-part fossil. It is the highest-scoring fossil (when complete) in terms of HRA points. Upon donation in Animal Crossing, Blathers will tell you: ''Why, this means... Yes! Tyrannosaurus! It’s complete!!! Oh, such joy! Such unfettered delight! Truly... this is splendid. I am quite beside myself. I’m practically molting with all this excitement! Now then, where to begin? Tyrannosaurus... A magnificent beast... A highly evolved theropod, the ‘tyrant lizard’ was one of the largest carnivores of the late Cretaceous period. It had a large head, a short, muscular neck, a barrel-like body, and powerful hind legs with three-taloned feet. Its skull was enormous, and its vast jaws were filled with dagger-like teeth, the largest of which were 6 inches long! T-rex was 40 feet long from nose to tail. Resistance to its powerful attacks was an exercise in futility! Garrrr! Oh my! Oh, terribly sorry! I beg your pardon, eh wot? I seem to have been overcome by momentary savagery. Hoo!''

Velociraptor
Velociraptor is a two-part fossil, introduced in City Folk.

Ammonite
Upon donation in Animal Crossing, Blathers will tell you: ''Well! Hoo and hoo again! An ammonite! My stars! A very impressive find! Ah yes, wonderful. This fossil is of exceedingly superior quality, wot wot. Now then, I know a thing or two about these creatures. Yes, indeed. Ammonites... Though ammonites lived in shells, they were not shellfish, but rather mollusks, like octopi and squid. The closest living relative to the ammonite is the chambered nautilus. Fascinating, no? Ammonites existed from the Devonian period, some 400 million years ago, to the end of the Cretaceous period. Their extinction coincided with that of the dinosaurs. Time and tide wait for neither man nor beast, wot! Oh, hoo. Blathers, you ninny! I've gone and done it again. Spewing out more information than necessary. So sorry.''

Dinosaur Egg
Upon donation in Animal Crossing, Blathers will tell you: ''Hoo, I say! Hoo upon hoo! A fossilized egg! Eggcellent! I must apologize for that atrocious pun. So sorry. I just got carried away in my eggcitement, eh wot? Because this is a grade-A specimen. Hoo hoo hoo! Now, I hate to admit this, but I cannot identify the species of dinosaur that produced this particular egg. I can envision its hatching, though, and from the shards, a new life slowly emerging, a miracle of flesh and bone! Hoo, the wonder of it all! The drama. The spectacle! The ebb and flow! The grass and grit! Life, I say! Life! Hoo, mercy! Hoomy, indeed! I must apologize profusely. I...I was lost in the moment. My beak flaps on its own!''

Dinosaur Track
Upon donation in Animal Crossing, Blathers will tell you: ''Hoo, I say! Woo hoo! A fossilized footprint. Looks like some paleontology is afoot! Hoo hoo hoo! But truly, this is quite an earth-shaking find! I've never seen a specimen that can match it in beauty. The distinct three-toed foot tells us that this is the print of a theropod from... perhaps the Jurassic period, eh wot? It's impossible to discern anything more specific, but speculation is free, and a vital part of paleontology. Imagine a terrible carnivore stalking its prey... Its great weight pressing down into the earth... and... voila! History! Hoo, aren't I the blatherer! I beg your pardon, please! I do hope I didn't put you into a comatose state!''

Trilobite
Upon donation in Wild World, Blathers will tell you: ''Hoo my, simply marvelous! This fossil is an outstanding specimen. Trilobites existed long before the dinosaurs, I'll have you know. At the time, there were very few enemies, so they thrived, wot! For protection, much like a...blech...pill bug, they would roll up into a ball. Oh, forgive me babbling! The very thought of these beasts gets me atwitter!''