noun
- Plural of endocast; casts or molds of the internal cavity of a fossil shell, skull, or other structure, used to study the shape and size of the organism's internal organs or brain.
Usage: paleontology; technical
Examples
- Paleontologists examined the endocasts of ancient ammonites to understand their internal structure.
- The endocasts revealed details about the brain size of extinct hominins.
- By studying endocasts, scientists can infer the sensory capabilities of fossil organisms.
- The museum displayed several endocasts of dinosaur skulls alongside the original fossils.
- Endocasts of trilobite shells provided evidence of their nervous system organization.