Define the term derived fossil?

A derived fossil is a fossil that is the result of a process of evolution, where an organism has evolved from an earlier, ancestral form. Derived fossils show changes and adaptations that have occurred over time in a species, reflecting the evolutionary history of that organism.

A derived fossil is a fossil that exhibits characteristics that are derived, or more advanced, than those of its ancestors. Derived fossils are often used to track the evolution of a particular species or group of organisms. For example, the presence of feathers in a fossil bird is a derived characteristic, as feathers are not present in the ancestors of birds.