the_original_Retro

the_original_Retro t1_isswqft wrote

TL;DR: That's not all we have. Bones are one evidence point and teach us tons. But there's all sorts of other 'fossils' that are often found with them and add to a far greater story.

===========================

Let's start with bones first.

From the way bones are constructed, we can tell if they have to support heavy weight like an elephant, or let the animal climb a tree like a squirrel, or allow the animal to unhinge its jaw to swallow very large prey like a snake, or show lots of evidence where tendons were firmly anchored to them that indicate an animal with massive strength like modern gorillas. Worn-down and scratched up flat teeth might indicate a grazer that ate a lot of grit.

Then there's the chemical composition in those bones. Certain trace chemicals can teach us about the animal's diet, or about its health. Was it malnourished? Did it live long? And so on.

But there's TONS of other stuff too. Those bones could be found with smaller bones of the creatures that were in the animal's stomach or that passed through into its dung. Its footprints could have been preserved in mud and teach us how long its stride was while walking or running. Certain types of skin and hair are very often preserved too.

So we add it ALL up, and compare it to what we know about modern animals for similarities, and there ya go.

35

the_original_Retro t1_irkz731 wrote

It's the grass and weeds. They're EXTREMELY well animated.

Almost all of us remember breezy sunsets, lying down and watching small plants move in the wind.

This absolutely captures its essence. The sunset and cloudscape is like the whipped cream on top of the strawberry shortcake - needed and necessary, but not the heart of the dish..

But... most of us can FEEL that breeze.

3

the_original_Retro t1_iqvi87x wrote

Been there myself.

If there was ever a place that deserved a poem...

New Brunswick is effin' gorgeous this time of year. Fall colours are at their peak, the mosquitoes got taken out by the early frosts, the air is fresh and clean, and you can go for an hour-long walk in the woods and not see another soul.

17