Fossils of early crocodiles show that early crocodiles must have eaten a mainly vegetarian diet, as they are not found near any fossils of living creatures that would have served as the crocodiles' prey. Instead, they are found near fossils of different kinds of vegetation, many of which no longer exist today. Skeletons of modern crocodiles, on the other hand, are often found near those of other animals, showing that the diet of crocodiles has changed over thousands of years.
The argument assumes that
A)Skeletons of crocodiles' prey are always found directly surrounding a crocodile fossil or skeleton.
B)Fossils or skeletons found near a predatory animal can give an idea of what prey comprised an animal's diet.
C)Crocodiles have existed in their present form for thousands of years.
D)Crocodiles cannot consume plant life and other animals together.
E)Fossils and skeletons are not reliable indicators for interpreting the lives of animals.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The argument assumes that fossils or skeletons found near a predatory animal can give an idea of what prey comprised an animal's diet. The argument claims that because only plant fossils were found near ancient crocodiles, those crocodiles must not have eaten other animals. This argument only makes sense if fossils found near an animal's remains are a reliable indicator of what that animal ate.

Fossils of Early Crocodiles Show That Early Crocodiles Must Have