AboutDavid Prus Expertise I can answer any general questions about dinosaurs and on prehistoric mammals in the Cenozoic. I also know a bit about the media's various depictions of dinosaurs and their inaccuracies. I don't know much about "microfauna"-small animals, or about Paleozoic besides some knowledge about Permian animals. Plants are right out, I'm afraid.
Experience I have been interested in dinosaurs for most of my life, own a large collection of scientific papers and books on the subject, and am a member of the Field Museum in Chicago.
Education/Credentials I am in college, but studied biology and geology both in high school and as a personal effort.
Expert: David Prus Date: 1/24/2008 Subject: paleontologists
Question how can paleontologists determine what a dinosaur looked like.
Answer Well, if there's a full skeleton, the skeleton is articulated so that all the bones line up correctly. If the animal is known from fragments, scientists use its closest relatives as a guide to what it looked like.
With the skeleton in place, muscles are reconstructed based on the muscle-attachment points found on the bones. Other internal organs are placed within the body frame and arranged in a similar way to the closest living relatives (birds and crocodiles for dinosaurs).
Skin impressions have been found on mummies, so certain species have distinct skin textures. The color of the skin is unknown, but their living relatives are again used as guides (this is tricky when it comes to dinosaurs, since crocodiles are drab and birds have a wide variety of color patterns). The environment and ecological role are also taken into consideration.
A short question with a long answer, but here it is.
