Question

Scientists observed a rock stratum and discovered some fossils. The image shows the fossils they discovered. What can you interpret from the image?

an illustration showing layers rock with fossils embedded in some rock layers


1. The dinosaur and the mammoth existed after the trilobites.

2. The dinosaur and the armored fish existed before the trilobites.

3. The trilobites and the armored fish died before the dinosaur.

4. The trilobites and the armored fish were born after the dinosaur.

5. The early mammoth is older than the trilobites.

Answer 1

Option (1) and (3)

Step-by-step explanation:

In the given image, it shows a rock stratum, which is comprised of different fossils that were deposited at different times in different sedimentary rocks.

The oldest fossils recorded in the strata are the trilobites. After this, the next fossil found is a gastropod which is younger than the trilobites.

Above, this layer, there layers another igneous rock layer which is followed by the sedimentary rocks comprising a fossil of Devonian armored fish.

Next to this, there occurs a dinosaur fossil and lastly, above this layer, there occurs a mammoth fossil.

So, from the image, a geologist can easily determine which fossils have deposited first (oldest) and which have deposited in the recent (youngest).

Thus, the two options (1) and (3) are correct which says that-

Both the dinosaur and mammoth lived after the death of trilobites.

Both the trilobites and the armored fish died before the existence of the dinosaur.

Answer 2

The correct statements are:

1. The dinosaur and the mammoth existed after the trilobites.

The trilobites are a species that appeared and existed much earlier than any dinosaur or later mammals like the mammoth. The difference in their existence is few hundred million years, and while the trilobites are primitive life form, the dinosaurs and mammoths are much newer, better evolved species.

3. The trilobites and the armored fish died before the dinosaur.

Before the dinosaurs appeared, there were many other species that lived before them, some of which are the trilobites and the armored fish. The trilobites being one of the oldest species, and the armored fish being a more evolved but still primitive fish with exoskeleton. Both of them existed in periods prior to the dinosaur domination.