Is it possible to classify a dinosaur species as female or male just by looking at the skeletal structure? If so, what are some differences between the sexes?
from Chelsea, age 14, ?, ?, USA; July 19, 2001

MIKE: Not really. Some people have tried it but it does not really work just yet. In order to tell male from female we would have to have LOTS of complete skeletons from specimens that we already know are from both males and females - but that is only possible from animals that still have flesh on the bones. We cannot simple say that "males are bigger" because in some bird families the females are bigger. Paleontologists do have one "brooding female" Oviraptor on a nest of eggs, but the comparisons with the other Oviraptor specimens has not been done yet.