19 Finding Fossils

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Finding Fossils by Daniel Jacobs With the Editors of TIME FOR KIDS

Introduction Picturing the Past This is a painting of a Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur. Its short name is T-rex. This dinosaur died millions of years ago. But scientists know about how T-rex looked, how T-rex hunted, and how T-rex ate. How did scientists know about it? Scientists learn about dinosaurs and other animals. How? They study fossils. Fossils are old bones and other remains like teeth, eggs, and footprints. The sharp teeth of the T-rex show that it ate meat, not plants. Scientists know that T-rex had a good sense of smell because they studied its skull. Smell helped T-rex hunt.

Paleontologists are scientists who study fossils. They compare fossils with what other scientists know about living animals. Paleontologists study fossil footprints, too. They discovered that some dinosaurs traveled in herds like elephants do today. Of course, paleontologists have to find fossils before they can study them! Now you will travel with some scientists to places where you can find great fossils.

Chapter 1 Patagonia, South America Lots and Lots of Eggs Badlands are hot, dry, and rocky areas. They are good places to hunt for fossils. Few people live in the badlands. Luis Chiappe, Lowell Dingus, and Frankie Jackson hunted for fossils in badlands in South America. What did the team find? They found nests full of dinosaur eggs! Jackson used a microscope to study the eggs. Chiappe and Dingus used what they learned to make this picture of a dinosaur nest. Can you compare a dinosaur nest with a flamingo nest of today?

Chapter 2 Niger, Africa An African Giant This is a picture of Jobaria. Scientists found this dinosaur's bones in Niger, Africa. Scientists found clues near Jobaria. They show that this dinosaur was 19.8 meters (65 feet) tall. It ate plants. Jobaria roamed forests and rivers. Now the area is a dry desert. Paul Sereno was the leader of the science team in Niger. He wanted to learn more about Jobaria. He wanted to know if Jobaria could stand on its back legs. Sereno watched an elephant move. He compared the elephant's footprints and legs with Jobaria's. He discovered that Jobaria was able to stand up, too!