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hilburn t1_ist12nd wrote

Reply to comment by varialectio in How can we know details about animals that lived thousands of years ago if all we have are bones? by DemetrioGonz

Not to mention how they're found can give clues as to how they lived. Large groups together imply they lived in herds, smaller group with 2 adults and a number of juveniles is likely a family grouping etc

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CallMeLargeFather t1_ist2miz wrote

This seems very misleading though, usually a herd wont all die at once and fossilize right?

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hilburn t1_ist3dvy wrote

Not normally, but they can do due to particular events - mudslides, floods, volcanic eruptions etc

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xtaberry t1_ist65s7 wrote

And fossils usually form due to one of those kinds of events. The body needs to be quickly covered with sediment after death to have the best chance to become a fossil.

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