Transition Fossils

Which of the following is an example of a transition fossil?

• A fossil of a modern bird

• A fossil showing features of both fish and amphibians

• A fossil of a dinosaur

• A fossil of a modern mammal

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What is the significance of tetrapods in the study of evolution?

• They are the first organisms to develop wings

• They represent a major transition from aquatic to terrestrial life

• They are the first organisms to become extinct

• They are the first organisms to develop shells

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What are Transitional Fossils?

• All the fossils ever discovered on Earth

• a chart that divides Earth’s history into different time units.

• when the last individual organism of a species dies

• fossils that have characteristics of both ancestral organisms and organisms that evolved

Answer explanation

Transitional fossils are those that exhibit traits of both ancestral organisms and their evolved descendants. These fossils provide crucial evidence for understanding the evolutionary process and how species have changed over time. The other options refer to different aspects of paleontology and are not related to the concept of transitional fossils.

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Tiktaalik is a transition fossil between what two species?

• birds and dinosaurs

• land animals and fish

• birds and bees

• bacteria and cells

Answer explanation

Tiktaalik is a transitional fossil that represents the evolutionary link between fish and land animals. It had features of both groups, such as fish-like scales and gills, as well as land animal characteristics like a neck and robust limbs. This unique combination of traits makes Tiktaalik a crucial piece of evidence for understanding the evolution of vertebrates from water to land.

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Which of the following best describes a transition fossil?

• A fossil that shows features of both ancestral and derived species

• A fossil that is found in multiple geological layers

• A fossil that is identical to modern species

• A fossil that is incomplete or fragmented

What is the significance of Archaeopteryx in the study of evolution?

• It is the first known bird

• It shows a transition between reptiles and birds

• It is the largest dinosaur fossil found

• It represents the first mammal

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Which of the following is a characteristic of a transition fossil?

• It is always found in marine environments

• It shows a mix of traits from different species

• It is the oldest fossil in the record

• It is only found in one location

How do transition fossils support the theory of evolution?

• They show a direct lineage from one species to another

• They prove that all species evolved at the same time

• They show that species do not change over time

• They disprove the existence of extinct species

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Which transition fossil provides evidence for the evolution of mammals from reptiles?

• Tiktaalik

• Archaeopteryx

• Ichthyostega

• Cynognathus

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What does the presence of transition fossils in the fossil record indicate?

• A sudden appearance of new species

• A gradual change in species over time

• No change in species over time

• The extinction of all species

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