palaeontology
Ancient life study
Palaeontology is the study of prehistoric life through fossils—the preserved remains and traces of ancient organisms.
The field reconstructs evolutionary history, extinction events, and ancient ecosystems.
Palaeontology reveals that birds descended from dinosaurs.
The spelling paleontology dominates in American English.
Parallel geological layers
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
- CambrianEarliest Paleozoic period
- OrdovicianPaleozoic geological period
Silurian · Devonian · Carboniferous · Permian · Triassic · Jurassic · Cretaceous · Precambrian
Extinct segmented marine arthropod
- ammoniteExtinct spiral-shelled cephalopod
- archaeopteryxEarly feathered dinosaur genus
- ichthyosaurMesozoic ocean-dwelling reptile
- plesiosaurExtinct marine reptile
mammoth · mastodon · saber-toothed · pterodactyl · coprolite · amber · petrification · fossilization
Act of unearthing
- fieldworkResearch conducted on location
- preparationArranging things in advance
- carbon-datingIsotope-based age measurement
- radiometric datingAge measurement via atomic decay
reconstruction · specimen · quarry · sedimentology · paleoecology · paleoclimatology · paleogeography · scientific illustration
Evolutionary relationships among organisms
- cladisticsClassification by common descent
- common ancestorOrigin point of descendants
- speciationFormation of distinct species
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
divergence · morphology · homology · convergent evolution · transitional fossil · missing link · extinction event · mass extinction
Public exhibit space
- expeditionOrganized exploratory journey
- discoveryAct of finding something
- SmithsonianFederally funded museum network
- natural historyStudy of organisms and environments
Cope · Owen · collection · publication · research · vertebrate · invertebrate · academic
Fast predatory dinosaur genus
- BrachiosaurusTall sauropod genus
- IguanodonOrnithopod genus with distinctive thumb spikes
- SpinosaurusSail-spined Cretaceous theropod
- nestingMaking a dwelling
trackway · clutch · extinction
strata
Parallel geological layers
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
- CambrianEarliest Paleozoic period
Ordovician · Silurian · Devonian · Carboniferous · Permian · Triassic · Jurassic · Cretaceous · Precambrian · Mesozoic
trilobite
Extinct segmented marine arthropod
- ammoniteExtinct spiral-shelled cephalopod
- archaeopteryxEarly feathered dinosaur genus
- ichthyosaurMesozoic ocean-dwelling reptile
plesiosaur · mammoth · mastodon · saber-toothed · pterodactyl · coprolite · amber · petrification · fossilization · mold
excavation
Act of unearthing
- fieldworkResearch conducted on location
- preparationArranging things in advance
- carbon-datingIsotope-based age measurement
radiometric dating · reconstruction · specimen · quarry · sedimentology · paleoecology · paleoclimatology · paleogeography · scientific illustration · curation
phylogeny
Evolutionary relationships among organisms
- cladisticsClassification by common descent
- common ancestorOrigin point of descendants
- speciationFormation of distinct species
adaptation · divergence · morphology · homology · convergent evolution · transitional fossil · missing link · extinction event · mass extinction · evolutionary tree
museum
Public exhibit space
- expeditionOrganized exploratory journey
- discoveryAct of finding something
- SmithsonianFederally funded museum network
natural history · Cope · Owen · collection · publication · research · vertebrate · invertebrate · academic · journal
Velociraptor
Fast predatory dinosaur genus
- BrachiosaurusTall sauropod genus
- IguanodonOrnithopod genus with distinctive thumb spikes
- SpinosaurusSail-spined Cretaceous theropod
nesting · trackway · clutch · extinction
- geologybedrock, fault lines, faults, rock, basalt
- human evolutionhuman evolution, hominid, hominids, hominins, hominin
palaeontologyarchaeology
Study of physical remnants
futurology · modern history · forecasting · history · anthropology
palaeontologyzoology
Study of fauna
ecology · botany · biology · marine biology · ornithology