Which of the following information cannot be determined from the fossil record?

• A. The approximate age of a fossilized organism
• B. The general body structure of ancient organisms
• C. The types of environments ancient organisms lived in
• D. The exact color of an extinct animal's skin or fur

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the fossil record's limitations. Fossils provide physical evidence of ancient organisms, including their structure, age, and sometimes environmental context, but they do not preserve all details, such as color or soft tissue features.
2. Step 2: Recognize that the fossil record can determine the approximate age of a fossilized organism through techniques like radiometric dating or stratigraphy, which analyze the layers of rock where the fossil was found.
3. Step 3: Note that the general body structure of ancient organisms can be inferred from fossilized bones, shells, or imprints, which provide clues about their anatomy and morphology.
4. Step 4: Understand that the types of environments ancient organisms lived in can be deduced from associated sedimentary rock types, fossilized plants, or other environmental indicators found alongside the fossils.
5. Step 5: Acknowledge that the exact color of an extinct animal's skin or fur cannot be determined from the fossil record, as pigments typically do not survive fossilization. Rare exceptions include cases where microscopic structures like melanosomes are preserved, but even then, the exact color is often speculative.