Paleontological evidences for evolution refers to :
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Fossils
Option (1) Development of embryo — Incorrect. Likeness of embryos was offered as embryological evidence (Haeckel), and von Baer disproved it.
Option (2) Homologous Organs — Incorrect. Homologous organs are comparative anatomical evidence of common ancestry.
Option (3) Fossils — Correct. Rocks of different ages hold fossils of different life-forms; this shows that new forms arose at different times.
Option (4) Analogous Organs — Incorrect. Analogous organs are also anatomical evidence, of convergent evolution.
NCERT Extract:
What Are the Evidences for Evolution? – “… Fossils are remains of hard parts of life-forms found in rocks. Rocks form sediments and a cross-section of earth’s crust indicates the arrangement of sediments one over the other during the long history of earth. Different-aged rock sediments contain fossils of different life-forms who probably died during the formation of the particular sediment. Some of them appear similar to modern organisms (Figure 6.2). They represent extinct organisms (e.g., Dinosaurs). A study of fossils in different sedimentary layers indicates the geological period in which they existed. The study showed that life-forms varied over time and certain life forms are restricted to certain geological timespans. Hence, new forms of life have arisen at different times in the history of earth. All this is called paleontological evidence.”