A fossil indicates that whales might have started out as small land mammals. This animal was about the size of a wolf and had a diet of meat and fish. While the fossil has the body of a land animal, its head is shaped like a whale with an ear bone that is unique to whales.

Question

Which statement is likely true about the fossil?
(1 point)
• It is not a transitional fossil, but it shows correlation.
• It is a transitional fossil that shows causation.
• It is not a transitional fossil, but it shows causation.
• It is a transitional fossil that shows correlation.

Answer 1

The likely true statement about the fossil is:

• It is a transitional fossil that shows correlation.

Transitional fossils are those that exhibit traits common to both an ancestral group and its descendant group, indicating a link in evolutionary history. In this case, the fossil represents a stage between land mammals and modern whales, showing characteristics of both types and supporting the idea of evolution from land-dwelling ancestors to aquatic mammals.