Biological reconstructions

The biological reconstructions are suggested representations of extinct animals, based on the best evidence available. In a similar way to the archaeological reconstructions, these have to be researched in detail from as much information as is available, mainly from fossil evidence, and from the studies by experts in the field. Because of the age of the fossils (some of them hundreds of millions of years old), the evidence is usually fragmentary and distorted, and interpretive images have to be developed by putting together evidence from as many examples as possible, with advice from the experts. This is combined with information from present day animals with similar characteristics, in the case of the extinct fish Birkenia elegans the shapes of the scales were based on some of the clearer sections of fossils, combined with the surface appearance of sales on some present day armoured catfish. Working on these combinations, an imaginary but detailed realisation of what the animal could have looked gradually emerges, keeping the details of the fossil evidence, but fleshing it out and giving it 3D form, surface finish and texture, and life. Factors such as colour are based on present day similar types of creatures living in a similar environment, as colour in nature is often dictated by environmental factors, eg. in camouflaging the animal from its prey or attackers.