When the fossil evidence didn't have all the answers, the team used a scientific technique known as phylogenetic bracketing.

当化石证据不能提供所有答案时，该团队使用了一种称为系统发育括号法的科学技术。

This is called phylogenetic bracketing -- using the presence of traits across related species to make an educated guess where those traits might occur.

这被称为系统发育括号法——利用相关物种中存在的特征来对这些特征可能出现的位置进行有根据的猜测。

So without that proof, paleontologists have to rely on inferences, based on closely related animals for which they do have hard evidence, a technique known as phylogenetic bracketing.

因此，如果没有这一证据，古生物学家就不得不依赖于他们确实有确凿证据的密切相关的动物的推论，这种技术被称为系统发育括号法。