Question

In looking at the layer of rock, bones from the Pliohippus are found in layers above bones of the Mesohippus what does this tell you about the age of these bones? The Mesohippus is older than the Pliohippus The Pliohippus is older than the Mesohippus The fossil record is incomplete so nothing can be determined about their age. They are both of the same age.

Answer 1

The correct answer is - The Mesohippus is older than the Pliohippus.

Trying to date the fossils according to the layers in which they are found can be very useful and relatively accurate. It has to be taken in consideration though that the layers of rocks should not be disturbed by geological processes, as that can give totally different results.

In this case, the fossils of the Pliohippus are found in layers closer to the surface, while the fossils of the Mesohippus are found in layers that further down, bellow the layers in which the Pliohippus fossils are found. This means that the Pliohippus is an animal that lived after the Mesohippus lived, thus making it a younger species, while the Mesohippus would be the older species.