Question

Why isn't the fossil record 100% reliable?

Answer 1

Fossil records are not 100% reliable because:

• For fossilization to happen, an organism must be underground quickly and deep enough to protect it from scavengers and decay. The proper conditions must be present to preserve the remains.
• Because of anatomy, environment, and potential for preservation, some organisms are more likely to become fossils than others. Soft-bodied organisms are less likely than those with rigid bodies to become fossils.
• Erosion, weathering, and tectonic activity destroy fossils. As a result, fossil records still need to be completed.
• Many species have yet to be preserved as fossils, making the fossil record a patchy record of life. Furthermore, some parts of the world have a better fossil record than others, which causes biases.
• The interpreter's biases influence the interpretation of fossils. As a result, different interpretations of the same record are subjective understandings.