Transition Fossils

Why did scientists lead by Shubin decide to search in the Canadian Arctic for transition fossils? Select all that apply.

• Age of the rocks

• Kind of the rock there

• Other parts of the world had been explored already

• The climate/weather was the best there

What characteristics of Tiktaalik are fish-like? Select all that apply.

• Fins

• Neck

• Scales

• Flat head

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

What characteristics of Tiktaalik make it a tetrapod? Select all that apply.

• Eyes on the top of head

• Flat head

• Hip bones

• A neck

• Tetrapod-like ribs

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

When do scientists believe Tikaalik lived?

• 380 MYA

• 375 MYA

• 370 MYA

• 365 MYA

• 360 MYA

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Select ALL the evidence that supports the idea that four-legged animals came from fish.

• All are vertebrates

• The embryos and DNA are similar

• The fossil record shows relatedness

• They have all the same bones

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-3

How long did it take for vertebrates to transition from water to land?

• Thousands of years

• Hundreds of thousands of years

• Millions of years

• A billion years

What is a transition fossil?

• A fossil that shows features of both ancestral and derived species

• A fossil that is found in transition zones between ecosystems

• A fossil that is used to date geological layers

• A fossil that is incomplete or fragmented

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Which of the following is an example of a transition fossil?

• Archaeopteryx

• Tyrannosaurus rex

• Trilobite

• Ammonite

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Why are transition fossils important in understanding evolution?

• They provide evidence of gradual change over time

• They show the extinction of species

• They indicate the age of the Earth

• They are used to identify new species

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

What characteristic of Tiktaalik makes it a transition fossil?

• It has both fish and tetrapod features

• It is the oldest known vertebrate

• It was found in marine sediments

• It is a direct ancestor of modern fish

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2