What is a fossilized bone fragment called?

A fossilized bone fragment is typically called a fragmentary fossil or bone fragment. It refers to a piece or portion of a bone that has been preserved and fossilized in the geological record. Bone fragments can vary in size and shape, ranging from small, isolated pieces to larger segments of bone. These fragments provide valuable information about the morphology, structure, and composition of the ancient organism’s skeletal system. By studying bone fragments, paleontologists can often identify the species or group of organisms to which the bone belongs, infer its anatomical features, and reconstruct aspects of its evolutionary history.