Diversity of life

Research collection · Diversity of life

Explore plants and animals, from giant dinosaurs to microfossils.

DiscoverOrnithischiansIguanodontians, stegosaurs, ankylosaurs and small herbivoresExplore →

Anatomical reconstruction and silhouette of a sauropod

DiscoverSauropodsThe giant turiasaur and the Camarasaurus-like sauropodExplore →

DiscoverTheropodsOrnithomimosaurs, carnivores and early birdsExplore →

DiscoverPalaeobotanyRediscovering plants from a lost landscapeExplore →

DiscoverPalynologyWhat pollen and spores revealExplore →

DiscoverCharophytesSmall algae as clues to water and timeExplore →

Disarticulated Scheenstia skeleton, Cherves

DiscoverFishFrom teeth and scales to aquatic faunasExplore →

DiscoverTurtlesReading shells and their historiesExplore →

Allain et al., 2022 · © MNHN

DiscoverCrocodyliformsComparing forms and lifestylesExplore →

Allain et al., 2022 · © MNHN

DiscoverPterosaursIdentifying flying reptiles from fragmentary remainsExplore →

DiscoverMammalsAn ancient history preserved in tiny teethExplore →

Allain et al., 2022 · © MNHN

DiscoverAmphibiansRecovering small animals from the sedimentExplore →

Allain et al., 2022 · © MNHN

DiscoverLizards and rhynchocephaliansSmall reptiles and their distinguishing featuresExplore →

Allain et al., 2022 · © MNHN

DiscoverComparative anatomy and dinosaur evolutionComparing bones and teeth to understand evolutionary relationshipsExplore →

Meet the people behind the project →

Examining the evidence

Counting fossils: what are the limits?

This graph describes identifiable large remains collected from 2010 to 2017. NISP counts identifiable specimens; N refers to bones, teeth or fragments; MNI estimates the minimum number of individuals. Ornithomimosaur shaft and rib fragments are included in the count.

Relative abundance of vertebrate macroremains, 2010–2017 — Silhouettes after Mazan. Figure 8, Rozada et al., 2021. Data from the 2010–2017 excavation seasons. Scientific article · DOI 10.1111/let.12394 · Click to enlarge the figure.

How to read the evidence

These proportions do not directly represent living populations. Fragmentation, preservation, identification and collection influence the results. This is a historical assessment for 2010–2017, rather than the current total of discoveries.

Specimens and data

Two collection methods, two views of diversity

The figure compares macroremains collected in 2010–2017 with microremains sampled in sector R3 in 2017 using a 0.8 mm mesh. These proportions describe the samples studied, rather than living populations directly.

Enlarge each plate to examine labels, specimen identifiers and scale bars.