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What Do Fossil Records Reveal About the History of Life on Earth?

Fossil records are like a time machine that shows us snapshots of life on Earth throughout different time periods. They tell an interesting story about evolution by showing how living things have changed over millions of years.

Key Insights from Fossil Records:

  1. Order of Life: Fossils are found in layers of rock, which helps scientists see when different plants and animals lived. For example, finding fish fossils in Devonian rock tells us that complex life started in water before moving onto land.

  2. Connecting Species: Fossils often show creatures that connect major groups. One well-known example is Archaeopteryx. It has features of both dinosaurs and modern birds, showing us how flying animals came to be.

  3. Mass Extinctions: The fossil record shows several big extinction events, like the one that killed the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. These events show how life on Earth changes dramatically over time.

In summary, fossil records are important proof for understanding evolution. They tell us not just who lived at different times, but also how life has changed and adapted to fit new environments.

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What Do Fossil Records Reveal About the History of Life on Earth?

Fossil records are like a time machine that shows us snapshots of life on Earth throughout different time periods. They tell an interesting story about evolution by showing how living things have changed over millions of years.

Key Insights from Fossil Records:

  1. Order of Life: Fossils are found in layers of rock, which helps scientists see when different plants and animals lived. For example, finding fish fossils in Devonian rock tells us that complex life started in water before moving onto land.

  2. Connecting Species: Fossils often show creatures that connect major groups. One well-known example is Archaeopteryx. It has features of both dinosaurs and modern birds, showing us how flying animals came to be.

  3. Mass Extinctions: The fossil record shows several big extinction events, like the one that killed the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. These events show how life on Earth changes dramatically over time.

In summary, fossil records are important proof for understanding evolution. They tell us not just who lived at different times, but also how life has changed and adapted to fit new environments.

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