The lifespan of a species is the
A) span during which a living species is observed in the wild.
B) duration of time that a species doesn't change.
C) span over which fossils of a species occur.
D) period of time that it takes for an individual to mature to adulthood, reproduce, and die.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The lifespan of a species is the span over which fossils of a species occur. This is because the lifespan of a species is determined by the duration of time it existed on Earth before becoming extinct. Fossils are the only physical evidence that remains from extinct species, so the span over which they occur is a good indicator of the species' lifespan. Option A is incorrect because it only refers to the observation of a species in the present, and not its entire existence. Option B is incorrect because no species remains completely unchanged over time. Option D is incorrect because it only refers to the lifespan of an individual, not a species.

The Lifespan of a Species Is the