This volume summarizes in detail particular aspects of hydrocarbon seep functioning, their evolution over time, and a summary of the most important seep occurrences and most important groups of animals that inhabited ancient hydrocarbon seeps. While several publications exist that cover modern seeps and vents, fossil seeps only constitute a small component of the literature. Many geologists, stratigraphers, and paleontologists, as well as undergraduates and graduate students, are not very familiar with hydrocarbon seep deposits and their associated fauna. Therefore, a text is needed to comprehensively discuss the nature of such communities and how to recognize them. This book not only summarizes the available knowledge for specialists, but also explains the topic for students and a wide community of geologists and paleontologists.