How did Cuvier use comparative anatomy to study fossils?
My approach was to treat fossils as if they were remains of living beings, albeit extinct ones. I applied the principles of comparative anatomy, honed by studying extant animals, to these ancient bones. By understanding how the form of one bone dictates the form of others in a living creature, I could infer the entire skeleton of an extinct animal from even a single fragment. This detailed comparison allowed for the classification and identification of extinct species and their relationships.
Ask Georges Cuvier the follow-up →