Question

For many years scientists thought that dinosaurs rapidly replaced their ancestors. New information shows that dinosaurs and their non-dinosaur ancestors may have
existed together for tens of millions of years. Which evidence MOST likely made it possible to support the idea that dinosaurs and their ancestors coexisted for
millions of years?
A. Fewer fossils were found of amphibians than of dinosaurs.
B. More fossils found were of larger organisms than of dinosaurs,
C. Herbivore bones were found in each rock layer.
D. Bones of three different species were found in the same rock layer

Answer 1

Answer:

The evidence that is most likely to support the idea that dinosaurs and their ancestors could have coexisted for millions of years is bones of three different species were found in the same rock layer (option D).

Explanation:

Fossils have been the strongest evidence of the existence of extinct species in the remote past. The discovery of some species and their possible ancestors in the same layer of rocks confirms the possibility of the coexistence of evolutionary forms of the same species, for a great period of time.

Once the fossils have been found, paleontologists use molecular genetic techniques to identify the fossils and their relationship with others found in the same place.

The approach suggests that it is not necessary for a species to become extinct in order for its evolutionary descendant to appear, considering coexistence for thousands or even millions of years.

The other options do not provide solid evidence to support this approach.

A. Fewer fossils were found of amphibians than of dinosaurs, which does not specify an evolutionary relationship.

B. More fossils found were of larger organisms than of dinosaurs,  which is not true, because species descended from dinosaurs tend to be smaller.

C. Herbivore bones were found in each rock layer, not related to the approach.