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 most reasonable?(1 point)

Question

Responses

The fossils are from animals that lived at the same time.
The fossils are from animals that lived at the same time.

The fossils are from an ancestor of animal T.
The fossils are from an ancestor of animal T.

The fossils came from the same organism.
The fossils came from the same organism.

The fossils are from a descendant of animal T.

Answer 1

The most reasonable conclusion is:

The fossils are from a descendant of animal T.

This conclusion is supported by the fact that the newly discovered fossil has similar bones to animal T, which indicates a biological relationship, likely reflecting a lineage where the new fossil represents a more recent species that evolved from animal T.