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PaleontOLogy

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What is Paleontology?

Paleontology is the study of ancient life, from dinosaurs to prehistoric plants, mammals, fish, insects, fungi, and even microbes. Fossil evidence reveals how organisms changed over time and what our planet was like long ago.

PaleontOLogy Stuff:

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About 80 million years ago two dinosaurs were locked in deadly combat when they were suddenly buried alive. See one of the greatest fossil specimens ever found.

Meet the largest Stegosaurus ever found!

Paleontologist Mark Norell answers kids’ questions.

Paleontologist Mark Norell answers questions about T. rex.

What is it like to hunt for dinosaur fossils? And what discoveries are made back in the lab?

Meet some of the more unusual members of T. rex and Velociraptor's family tree.

Match up these eight dinosaur fossil photos with their descriptions.

Bury chicken bones in plaster of Paris to see the challenges paleontologists face when excavating fossils.

Learn how to look at a bunch of bones and draw what a dinosaur looked like. 

What skin color, eye color, and type of feathers will you give this T. rex?

Join the inquisitive Deena Soris as she interviews the fossil of a Protoceratops. 

Anyone can find fossils. This handy guide tells you where to look and what to do.

Take a peek inside two paleontologists' scrapbook.

A paleontologist travels to Antarctica to collect fossil evidence.

How do your fossil-sorting skills stack up? Put them to the test with this kid-friendly online puzzle.

Examine fossils and gather clues from experts!

Find out how paleontologist John Flynn answered kids' questions.

Ross MacPhee has always loved dirt. To him it means the opportunity to find lost things — from bones and teeth to pirate treasure.

Challenge your friends to this Mesozoic Era card game.

Mix the sounds of different animals to create the roar of the Tyrannosaurus rex!

In this interview, meet the cast of a titanosaur, one of the largest dinosaurs ever found!

How much do you know about the Age of Dinosaurs? 

Take this 10-question quiz to test your knowledge of Tyrannosaurus rex, the ultimate predator!

Learn about fossils, extremely rare—and valuable—records of the past.