Question

While at the shore, you and your friend Maria find a nest containing the fossilized remains of an animal. The nest, covered with sand, contains the skeleton and six preserved eggs. Maria believes you have discovered a bird nest. You believe it is a turtle nest. What evidence would support Maria's claim that the fossilized remains are that of a bird, class Aves, instead of a turtle, class Reptilia? A) the eggs B) a backbone C) a keeled sternum D) warm-bloodedness

Answer 1

The correct answer is C) a keeled sternum.

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

To answer the question, they should examine the skeleton or the fossilized remains of the animal.

Turtles have tough, bony shells, like a suit of armour that protects their body. It has a carapace (domed top) and a plastron (flat layer underneath the belly). The backbones of the turtles are fused to the bones in their shells.

On the other hand, birds have a lightweight skeleton that is made of mostly thin and hollow bones. If the skeleton has a keeled sternum, or the breastbone what they discovered is most likely a bird's nest.

The answer is C.