Whales and the Robledo Mountains Read and Watch

What was the primary cause of the mass whale strandings at the site in Chile?

• Toxic algae consumption

• Climate change

• Predator attacks

• Volcanic eruption

Which of the following extinct creatures was NOT mentioned as being found at the Cerro Ballena site?

• Aquatic sloths

• Walrus whales

• Giant squids

• Seals

What was the significance of the discovery at Cerro Ballena according to Sol Square?

• It was the largest fossil find in the world.

• It was a discovery of global importance due to its size and diversity.

• It was the first discovery of marine mammals in Chile.

• It was the oldest fossil site ever discovered.

What type of fossils are found in the Robledo Mountains in New Mexico?

• t-rex

• shallow sea animals

• cycads and ginkgoes

• crinoids

What do the fossils on the Robledo Mountains tell us about the area’s past?

• It was once an arctic climate

• It was once an arid desert

• It was once a warm, shallow sea

• It was once a deep, cold sea

Why are these fossils convincing evidence of the Robledo Mountains’ past?

• They are similar to ocean creatures living today.

• They contain salt, providing evidence of saltwater.

• They show the that Robledo Mountain has always been the same.

• They show that the area used to be covered in volcanos.

How do animals that swim eventually get fossilized in rock layers?

• The salt in the water causes marine animals to fossilize.

• They swim into challenging places and get stuck.

• If the water is warm, marine animals will fossilize better.

• Their shells are covered in sediment on the ocean floor after dying.

Are environmental conditions in an area constant throughout Earth's history? Why or why not?