Chapter 11, Problem 1TQ

Summary Introduction

The fossils is an any impression, conserved remains or trace of any once living things that from the previous geological age. Examples of fossils are stone imprints of microbes or animals, bone, shells, and exoskeleton. The entirety of the fossils is termed as the fossil record. There are several types of fossils that includes index, transitional, trace, microfossils, chemical fossils, resin, wood and sub fossils.

Answer to Problem 1TQ

The fossils that exhibits traits common of both an ancestral and its descendant group are termed as an intermediate fossils.

Therefore, option (c) is correct.

Explanation of Solution

Justify the reasons for the correct statement:

The intermediate fossils are otherwise called as transitional fossils. It is a fossilized residue of a life form that shows the traits which share the similarities with their ancestral groups and descendant groups. It is essential where the group of descendant is severely distinguished by mode of living and gross anatomy from the group of ancestors.

Option (c) is given as, “both of the above”.

Hence, the option (c) is correct.

Justify the reasons for the incorrect statements:

Option (a) is given as, “Share some similarities with their ancestral group”. 

The transitional fossils not only share the similarities with their ancestors. It also shares about the descendant groups. Hence, it is a wrong answer.

Option (b) is given as, “Share some similarities with their descendant groups”.   

An intermediate fossils does not only exhibits the descendant group resemblances, but it also gives resemblances of ancestral groups. Hence, it is a wrong answer.

Option (d) is given as, “none of the above”.   

The given statement is not accurate because it exhibits both an ancestral and descendant groups. Hence, it is a wrong answer.

Hence, options (a), (b), and (d) are incorrect.

Conclusion

Therefore, an intermediate fossils share some similarities with their ancestral groups and also shares some similarities with their descendant groups.