A scientist discovers a fossil of an animal and places it in the fossil record. The organism's bones are similar to the bones of animal T, which appears earlier in the fossil record. Which conclusion is the most reasonable?

Answer 1

The most reasonable conclusion is that the discovered fossil represents a related species or a descendant of animal T. Similarities in bone structure suggest that the two organisms may share a common ancestry, with the newly discovered fossil potentially evolving from animal T over time. This could indicate a gradual change and adaptation in response to environmental factors, leading to speciation.