Likewise, the redwood tree known as the Metasequoia was known only from fossils, before a botanist found living specimens in China in the 1940s.

同样，在 1940 年代一位植物学家在中国发现活体标本之前，被称为水杉的红木树也只是从化石中得知。

Because we cannot directly observe a living specimen of an extinct species, we have to use our best judgement when we are naming a new species.

因为我们无法直接观察已灭绝物种的活体标本，所以我们在命名新物种时必须运用我们的最佳判断。