Question

Examine the fossil record image here.
According to the fossil record shown here, which organisms likely existed earliest on the planet compared to the others?
Responses

A ammonitesammonites

B fernsferns

C gastropodsgastropods

D trilobitestrilobites

Answer 1

Based on the general knowledge of the fossil record, trilobites (D) likely existed earliest compared to the other organisms listed. Trilobites are among the oldest known arthropods and first appeared in the Cambrian period, around 521 million years ago. Ammonites (A) appeared later in the Paleozoic era, so they are not as old as trilobites. Gastropods (C) also appeared after trilobites, and ferns (B) came even later in the fossil record.

So the correct answer is:

D - trilobites