Dinosaur paleontology is the scientific study of dinosaurs and their relatives through the examination of fossils. Paleontologists, scientists who specialize in this field, analyze bones, teeth, and footprints to understand how dinosaurs lived, what they ate, and how they evolved over millions of years. This research helps reconstruct ancient ecosystems and the environments in which dinosaurs thrived. Fossils can be found in sedimentary rock layers, and their age is determined using techniques like radiometric dating. Important discoveries, such as those made in the Late Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, have provided insights into the diversity of dinosaur species, including well-known examples like Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops.