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Question
- describe one reason why certain types of organisms are more likely to be found in the fossil record than others.
Organisms with hard parts (e.g., bones, shells) are more likely to fossilize. Soft - bodied organisms decay more easily. Fossilization requires rapid burial to prevent decomposition. Hard structures resist decay better during this process.
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Organisms with hard parts (such as bones, shells) are more likely to be found in the fossil record. This is because hard structures are more resistant to decay and decomposition compared to soft - bodied organisms. When an organism with hard parts dies, if it is rapidly buried (a key requirement for fossilization), the hard parts can be preserved over geological time, while soft tissues of soft - bodied organisms tend to decay quickly, making them less likely to be fossilized.