Fossils B/C

[izzyH]

Hi! I’ve been taking some fossils tests lately with a lot of questions about species of a genus, from how many species there are to what the last species to go extinct was. I thought that we only needed to be familiar with the specimen to the most specific classifications on the list, and for the most part that is genus and not species. Have I been interpreting the rules wrong?

[ChimpLopez]

Hi! I’ve been taking some fossils tests lately with a lot of questions about species of a genus, from how many species there are to what the last species to go extinct was. I thought that we only needed to be familiar with the specimen to the most specific classifications on the list, and for the most part that is genus and not species. Have I been interpreting the rules wrong?

No, I think you are reading the rules completely right. The rules clearly state that "Taxonomic classification restricted to the hierarchy on the Science Olympiad Official Fossil List". Due to that rule, the only species event supervisors should be able to ask you about are Homo sapien and C. Megalodon. They may also be able to ask about specific species if they were part of an important discovery or geologic concept. I get these questions a lot too and its frustrating especially if they ask us to classify a specimen to a more specific taxon than on the list, because in my opinion, the rules clearly state that we should not be tested on that.

[hmmm]

Hi! I’ve been taking some fossils tests lately with a lot of questions about species of a genus, from how many species there are to what the last species to go extinct was. I thought that we only needed to be familiar with the specimen to the most specific classifications on the list, and for the most part that is genus and not species. Have I been interpreting the rules wrong?

No, I think you are reading the rules completely right. The rules clearly state that "Taxonomic classification restricted to the hierarchy on the Science Olympiad Official Fossil List". Due to that rule, the only species event supervisors should be able to ask you about are Homo sapien and C. Megalodon. They may also be able to ask about specific species if they were part of an important discovery or geologic concept. I get these questions a lot too and its frustrating especially if they ask us to classify a specimen to a more specific taxon than on the list, because in my opinion, the rules clearly state that we should not be tested on that.

The ES cant ask you to ID species, but they can ask you about general info about a genus that happens to be related to species. Both questions izzyH described should be legal under the rules, as they only forbid "taxonomic classification".

[AkshayB]

I saw on this one test I was taking to identify which genus these trace fossils came from (an example is diplocaulus) and I had no idea how to identify them. Are these questions common and if so what are some commonly asked questions about a genus and its trace.

Thanks in advance,
Akshay.

[hmmm]

I saw on this one test I was taking to identify which genus these trace fossils came from (an example is diplocaulus) and I had no idea how to identify them. Are these questions common and if so what are some commonly asked questions about a genus and its trace.

Thanks in advance,
Akshay.

Nah, that's illegal by the rules.

[twig]

How much do you really need for major extinctions and what do you need?
As I recall, I remember that we have what happened, where it happened, what organisms died, and the causes of the extinction, but we need more stuff according to our co-coach for state.

Thanks!

[ChimpLopez]

How much do you really need for major extinctions and what do you need?
As I recall, I remember that we have what happened, where it happened, what organisms died, and the causes of the extinction, but we need more stuff according to our co-coach for state.

Thanks!

I've also seen them ask what percent of all species died, so that might be something you want to include.

[izzyH]

I've been trying to find a temporal range to add to my info sheet on Genus Astarte, but I cannot find the information anywhere. Does anyone know what the temporal range for this genus is?

[hmmm]

I've been trying to find a temporal range to add to my info sheet on Genus Astarte, but I cannot find the information anywhere. Does anyone know what the temporal range for this genus is?

460.9 to 0.0 Ma according to fossilworks

[twig]

We had this question on one of our invitationals test
During the Carboniferous, plants developed ______________, which allowed it to move farther from the water.
The answer is seeds, but I don't really understand this that well. I don't know that much on the evolution of plants.

Can any of you clarify this for me?
Thanks!