Scientists once believed that modern-day reptiles were the only living descendants of dinosaurs, which were reptiles. accumulating fossil evidence has now suggested that the most recent dinosaurs gave rise to birds, making birds one of the closest living relatives of dinosaurs. what statement provides the strongest evidence to support the claim that birds evolved from dinosaurs? a. a fossilized rib cage of the semi-aquatic dinosaur spinosaurus shows that it had lungs. b. fossils of the beaked dinosaur ankylosaurus show that it had modified scales that produced hard, bony plates.(c. fossils of the winged dinosaur archaeopteryx show that it had modified scales that produced feathers.) c is the right answer d. a fossilized nest of the herbivorous dinosaur brachiosaurus shows that it laid external eggs.