How do we know what dinosaurs looked like?

Scientists use a variety of methods to reconstruct what dinosaurs looked like. They rely on fossils, which are the remains or traces of ancient organisms, to help piece together the anatomy of a dinosaur. This includes examining bones, teeth, and other hard tissues, as well as studying impressions left by soft tissues, such as skin or feathers, in sedimentary rock.

Based on these clues, scientists can make educated guesses about the size, shape, and other physical characteristics of a dinosaur. They can also use computer modeling and biomechanical analysis to estimate how a dinosaur moved and interacted with its environment. In some cases, they may even be able to determine what color or pattern a dinosaur's skin had, based on preserved pigment molecules.

However, there are limitations to how much we can know about what dinosaurs looked like. Fossils are often incomplete or damaged, and many soft tissues, such as muscle and cartilage, do not preserve well in the fossil record. Additionally, some features, such as the color of a dinosaur's eyes or the texture of its skin, are impossible to determine from fossils alone.