Question

Describe an example of where fossils have been used to reconstruct the behavior of extinct animals.

Answer 1

Paleontology is the branch of science that documents the morphological diversity of life present in the past. Features such as locomotion, habitats, development, diet, social behavior help us in understanding the extinct species. It also makes us to understand the diversity of adaptations and behaviors of the past. The behavior can also studied fossils.

For example

Features of the distal radius of Australopithecus afarensis — one of the longest-lived and best-known early human species found around 2-3 million years ago in Eastern Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania). The species had both ape and human like characteristic features. The face proportions i.e. flat nose, a strong projecting lower jaw that helped in chewing hard foods, are the characters found in apes. Long and strong arms with curved fingers also represented a feature of apes and probably suggest its use for climbing trees. Small canine teeth, upright body that stood on two legs and small brain (less than 500 cubic centimeters) were like early humans.
Fossil specimens of ankylosaurs found in marine deposits suggested that they were terrestrial animals and lived close to coast or rivers. Similarly giant bony heads of pachycephalosaurs suggested their survival on upland environments. the conclusions were drawn from the pattern as we know that when bodies are transported to long distances by rivers, skeletons are broken up, small bones get destroyed and only the robust parts such as skulls remain intact.