Which can be excluded due to the absence of fossil records
There are several possibilities of organisms that can be excluded due to the absence of fossil records. These include:
1. Species with extremely soft bodies: Organisms with soft bodies, such as jellyfish or worms, rarely leave behind fossilized remains. Therefore, their absence in the fossil record does not necessarily mean that they didn't exist in the past.
2. Microscopic organisms: Microorganisms like bacteria or certain types of algae are too small to be preserved as fossils. Their absence in the fossil record does not imply their absence in the past.
3. Organisms from environments that are not conducive to fossil preservation: Fossilization requires specific conditions such as rapid burial and protective layers of sediment. Organisms that lived in environments lacking these conditions, such as deserts or high mountain ranges, may have left behind very few or no fossils.
4. Organisms with delicate structures: Organisms with fragile or delicate structures, such as delicate plant leaves or insect wings, are less likely to be preserved as fossils. Their absence in the fossil record does not indicate their non-existence.
5. Species with limited geographic distribution: Some species may have had a limited geographic range or existed in isolated habitats, making it less likely for their remains to be preserved and discovered as fossils.
It is important to note that the absence of fossil records does not necessarily imply that a particular organism did not exist in the past.