Why Is It Unlikely That We Will Find Fossils of Every

question 35

Multiple Choice

Why is it unlikely that we will find fossils of every extinct species?

• A) Most dead organisms are eaten by scavengers.
• B) Organic remains decompose.
• C) Not all species have hard parts like bones or teeth.
• D) Most fossils are buried too deep for us to find.
• E) More than one of these is correct.

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Definitions:

Archaeopteryx

An extinct dinosaur species known for having features of both birds and reptiles, considered a key piece of evidence in the evolution of birds.

Dinosaurs

A diverse group of reptiles of the clade Dinosauria, known from fossil evidence to have lived during the Mesozoic Era.

Phenotypes

Phenotypes are the observable characteristics or traits of an organism, resulting from the interaction of its genotype with the environment.

Genotypes

The genetic makeup of an organism determining its characteristic traits.