Member-only story

Dinosaur Lives Revealed By Their Trace Fossils

Rudyard Kipling

·12k Followers· Follow

Published in Dinosaurs Without Bones: Dinosaur Lives Revealed By Their Trace Fossils

4 min read · 3 weeks before

540 View Claps

59 Respond

Save

Listen

When we think of dinosaurs, we often picture them as giant, lumbering creatures that roamed the Earth millions of years ago. But there's much more to dinosaurs than just their size and appearance. In fact, scientists have learned a great deal about dinosaur behavior, diet, and environment by studying their trace fossils.

Trace fossils are any evidence of an animal's activity that is preserved in the rock record. This can include footprints, nests, burrows, and even糞便. While trace fossils don't tell us everything about dinosaurs, they can provide valuable insights into their lives.

Dinosaurs Without Bones: Dinosaur Lives Revealed by Their Trace Fossils

by Anthony J. Martin

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	6041 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Print length	:	440 pages

Footprints

One of the most common types of dinosaur trace fossils is footprints. Footprints can tell us a lot about a dinosaur's size, shape, and gait. For example, the footprints of a Tyrannosaurus rex show that it was a massive, bipedal predator. The footprints of a Triceratops show that it was a large, quadrupedal herbivore.

Nests

Another type of dinosaur trace fossil is nests. Nests can tell us a lot about a dinosaur's reproductive behavior. For example, the nests of some dinosaurs show that they laid eggs in communal nests. The nests of other dinosaurs show that they built individual nests for their young.

Burrows

Burrows are another type of dinosaur trace fossil. Burrows can tell us a lot about a dinosaur's habitat. For example, the burrows of some dinosaurs show that they lived in burrows that they dug themselves. The burrows of other dinosaurs show that they lived in burrows that they inherited from other animals.

糞便

糞便 is a type of dinosaur trace fossil that can tell us a lot about a dinosaur's diet. For example, the糞便of a Tyrannosaurus rex shows that it ate meat. The糞便of a Triceratops shows that it ate plants.

Trace fossils are a valuable source of information about dinosaurs. They can tell us about their size, shape, gait, reproductive behavior, habitat, and diet. By studying trace fossils, scientists have been able to gain a better understanding of the lives of these amazing creatures.

Dinosaurs Without Bones: Dinosaur Lives Revealed by Their Trace Fossils

by Anthony J. Martin

4.6 out of 5