Special circumstance that must exist to allow soft bodied organisms to be preserved?

Question

It isn't hard to understand how bones, shells, and teeth become fossils. However, bumblebees, jellyfish, and delicate leaves are also sometimes fossilized. What is the special circumstance that must exist to allow such delicate living things to be preserved?

Answer 1

The body of the animal must be dead, of course, and be undisterbed when it dies. Meaning, if a fish dies, in order for it to become a fossil, it would have to sink to the bottom of the ocean, and be undisterbed for a period of time so sedimants can cover it and harden. The ouside shape of the fish would be preserved but the actual fish would rot.