Palaeontology is the study of biology and its evolution over various geological and historical periods. Fossils and relics of ancient biological activity preserved in rock strata of different ages allow the emergence and formation, classification and distribution, form and structure, evolution and extinction of biological species to be studied. This information is used to elucidate the development and evolution of the biological world and to determine the ages of geological events, the ancient geological environments, crustal evolution and metallogenic conditions. Palaeontology can be subdivided into palaeozoology, palaeontology, ancient vertebrates, ancient anthropology, micro- (ultra-micro-) palaeontology and palaeoecology. Geological heritage sites with palaeontological significance and interest are important geotourism resources.
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(2020). Palaeontology. In: Chen, A., Ng, Y., Zhang, E., Tian, M. (eds) Dictionary of Geotourism. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2538-0_1824
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2538-0_1824
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