The fossil record is incomplete because
A) very few organisms were preserved as fossils.
B) organisms tend to decay before becoming a fossil.
C) animals with hard parts are preserved more easily.
D) geologic processes may destroy fossils.
E) all of these are true.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

All of these options are true. The fossil record is incomplete for all of these reasons. Very few organisms were preserved as fossils because the conditions for fossilization are rare. Organisms tend to decay before becoming a fossil, especially if they have soft bodies. Animals with hard parts are preserved more easily, so the fossil record is biased towards those types of organisms. Geologic processes, such as erosion or volcanic activity, can also destroy fossils once they are formed.

The Fossil Record Is Incomplete Because