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I mean if a scientist says that there used to be an extinct species of fish, bird, or reptile hundreds of years ago, but is no longer here, how would anyone possible know that? Isnt it more of a guess? Just wondering. Thanks.

2007-01-23 15:28:44 · 9 answers · asked by j_issa 1 in Science & Mathematics Zoology

Wow, this is great! Thanks everybody for such quick responses

2007-01-23 15:39:49 · update #1

9 answers

well i think scientists can somehow guess the shape of the animals by their fossils. also by examining the age of the fossil, they can probably guess what time period that animal lived and in what extremes. just a thought.

:)

2007-01-23 15:31:28 · answer #1 · answered by Maggie Mae 3 · 0 0

There are recent examples. The dusky seaside sparrow went extinct during the 80's in Florida. The classic case is the passenger pigeon.

Any animal that is found in fossils but does not exist today. A few extinct insects have been found in hardened amber.

So, no. It's not a guess. Scientist don't guess. They do use probabilities and statistics backed up with facts.

2007-01-23 15:41:46 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Well saying it is one thing and proving it is another. The way science work is that you have to back up your claims. Also, after making a claim be prepare to defend that claim since other scientist will put your claims to the test. If a species existed then you must support that claim by some prove. The more concrete the better. For extinc species you will need fossils or bones of some sort. It depends how far back did the species existed. In short you need prove or noone in their right mind will belive you. Is supposed to be science not science fiction.

2007-01-23 15:35:00 · answer #3 · answered by mr_gees100_peas 6 · 0 0

We can tell from fossils that they leave behind. Scientists such as geologists and paleontologists have discovered remains of species from as long ago as 4 billion years (the Burgess Shale up in Canada is a good example). Fossils are any remains left behind by an animal- including tracks (trace fossils). If bones are left, scientists are usually able to reconstruct on paper what their outer body may have looked like. Trace fossils help them find where they went to eat, mate, etc, and of course what their footprints looked like. In fact from footprints many scientists are able to tell how they walked and how tall they were. Sometimes, when we are lucky, soft parts (flesh) of a critter is imprinted in a rock or even sometimes left behind in the rare case of being frozen for only a few thousand years. It is really quite amazing.

2007-01-23 16:06:26 · answer #4 · answered by Kathryn S 4 · 0 0

We have plenty of fossil records that attest to the existence of extinct species of all sorts, and paleontologists and other scientists are continually examining and sometimes reworking how the animal was constructed (the brontosaurus and T. rex are good examples). And we're assuming you meant millions of years ago, not hundreds. Dodoes, after all, were still with us until about 1700 CE, and we know from written records, drawings, etc. that they existed.

2007-01-23 15:40:43 · answer #5 · answered by Tony 5 · 0 0

Think of Dinosaurs
there are fossils, bones, geological formations, and stuff preserved in amber
and probably alot of guessing

2007-01-23 15:32:06 · answer #6 · answered by hmmm.....good question 2 · 0 0

How would you be able to explain the fossilized remains of all these species if they never existed?

2007-01-23 15:38:43 · answer #7 · answered by eric l 6 · 0 0

physical evidence like skeletons added to or from the fossil record, frozen remains, or even written or artistic accounts from the people living in that time

2007-01-23 15:33:32 · answer #8 · answered by bigwoodenhead 3 · 0 0

by fossil records

2007-01-24 20:49:09 · answer #9 · answered by wild joe 2 · 0 0

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