Paleontology is the study of ancient life on Earth, as reflected in the fossil record. Fossils are more than just dinosaur bones. They may also be remains or traces of other organisms including other animals, plants, or even bacteria. A fossil may be defined as any trace of a past life form preserved in some way.
Paleontologists are scientists who study these fossils to learn about the history of our earth. They often find these fossils by digging into layers of sedimentary rock. A paleontologist then uses scientific methods to find out more about the organism that made the fossil.
Paleontologists use many tools. When they are looking for fossils, they use picks, chisels, drills, shovels, and brushes. They may use a magnifying glass to get a closer look at their fossils. They also use computers to analyze their findings and compare what they have learned to information already known.
Paleontology can be broken down into many specialties, including:
Vertebrate Paleontology - the study of fossils of animals with backbones
Invertebrate Paleontology - the study of fossils of animals without backbones
Micropaleontology - the study of fossils of single-celled organisms
Paleobotany - the study of plant fossils
Taphonomy - the study of how fossils form and are preserved
Biostratigraphy - the study of the vertical distribution of fossils in rocks
Paleoecology - the study of ancient ecosystems and how they developed
Palynology - the study of microfossils, especially pollens and spores.
The study of paleontology often overlaps with other fields of science like, geology, botany, biology, zoology, and ecology.
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