Chapter 11, Problem 1TQ

Summary Introduction

The fossils refer any impression, conserved remains or trace of any living things from the previous geological age. Examples of fossils includes 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 including index, transitional, trace, microfossils, chemical fossils, resin, and wood and sub fossils.

Answer to Problem 1TQ

The fossils that exhibits traits common to both ancestral and its descendant group are termed as 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. Intermediate fossils show the traits sharing similarities with their ancestral and descendant groups. It is essential where the group of descendant is severely distinguished from the group of ancestors by the mode of living and gross anatomy.

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 ancestral groups, but also shares similarities with their descendant groups. Hence, it is a wrong answer.

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

Intermediate fossils not only exhibits similarities with their descendant group, but also resembles their ancestral groups. Hence, it is a wrong answer.

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

The given statement is not accurate because intermediate fossils shares similarities to both 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.