|
|
Article: Kids' questions answered.(Originated from Knight-Ridder Newspapers)
- Article from:
- Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service
- Article date:
- March 21, 1996
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1996 Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Q. How do scientists know that dinosaurs look like they think they do? _Chris Marshall.
A. Scientists who reconstruct dinosaurs are experts in animal anatomy, the structures of animals' bodies. They know the shapes of bones and what their functions are, and how much weight they can carry. From this general knowledge, they can estimate from partial and nearly complete skeletons what the dinosaurs looked like. Also there are fossil footprints that give further indications of weight and size, and tell things such as how fast a dinosaur might have walked or run, which would give indications of the length of their legs, for example. In addition, scientists probably know ...