What concept did Georges Cuvier primarily contribute to?

Georges Cuvier is best known for his contributions to comparative anatomy and palaeontology, which are fundamental to understanding the structure and classification of organisms based on their anatomical features. He established that different species had distinct anatomies, and through his work with fossils, he demonstrated how certain species became extinct and could be understood through their anatomical characteristics. Cuvier's emphasis on observing and comparing anatomical structures laid the groundwork for future studies in biology and paleontology, allowing scientists to reconstruct the evolutionary history of life on Earth by analyzing fossil records. His ideas also contributed to the understanding of catastrophism, proposing that Earth's geological features were shaped by sudden, catastrophic events, which aligned well with the fossil evidence he studied. This focus on anatomical comparison and the study of fossils made Cuvier a pivotal figure in the development of both comparative anatomy and palaeontology.