Paleontologists (pay-lee-un-TAH-lo-jists) are scientists who discover and study fossils. (Paleo- means ancient or old, and -ologist means a person who studies a subject or field.) Paleontologists look at bone structure and skin covering and explore questions such as:

• How did different animals move around?
• Why did some animals have feathers or fur, while others had scales or smooth skin?
• How did certain body parts in one species become modified, or changed, in a new species?