The fossil record indicates that the immediate ancestors of modern marine animals diversified in the ____ period, right after the ____ extinction.
A) Ordovician; Cambrian
B) Jurassic; Triassic
C) Carboniferous; Devonian
D) Paleogene; Cretaceous
E) Triassic; Permian

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The immediate ancestors of modern marine animals diversified in the Triassic period, right after the Permian extinction, which was the largest mass extinction event in Earth's history, wiping out approximately 90% of all species. The Triassic period saw the emergence and diversification of many modern marine animal groups.

The Fossil Record Indicates That the Immediate Ancestors of Modern