"Pregnant Fossil May Shed Light on Animal Behavior" by PBS NewsHour Scientists have pieced together the first-ever fossil of a pregnant plesiosaur, a giant Mesozoic sea reptile from the Cretaceous Era, with an embryo still inside. The animal, which roamed the seas 78-million years ago, is about 15-feet long—the length of a minibus—and bones indicate that the baby plesiosaur would have been as long as six feet when born. The finding, published in the online edition of the journal Science on Thursday, is definitive evidence that the giant sea creature gave birth to single, live offspring, rather than laying eggs, like most reptiles, says paleontologist and lead author F. Robin O’Keefe. This reproductive behavior also indicates that the animals were gregarious social creatures that cared for their young, similar to toothed whales or dolphins, according to the paper. Question Use the passage “Pregnant Plesiosaur Fossil May Shed Light on Ancient Animal’s Behavior” to answer the question. Write 4–5 sentences in which you explain what you would include and not include in an objective summary of “Pregnant Plesiosaur Fossil May Shed Light on Ancient Animal’s Behavior.”

1 answer

In an objective summary of "Pregnant Plesiosaur Fossil May Shed Light on Ancient Animal’s Behavior," I would include key details such as the identification of the fossil as the first-ever pregnant plesiosaur, the significance of finding an embryo inside, and the implications for understanding its reproductive behavior. I would mention the size of the plesiosaur, approximately 15-feet long, and the size of the embryo, which could reach six feet at birth. Additionally, I would highlight the conclusion drawn by the researchers about the social and nurturing behaviors of plesiosaurs, comparing them to modern toothed whales and dolphins. I would not include subjective interpretations or the opinions of the researchers beyond their scientific findings, nor would I provide unrelated background information about the Mesozoic era or other marine reptiles unless it directly supports the main points.