Question

Match column I with column II and select the correct option.

$\begin{array}{cccc}& \text{Column I}& & \text{Column II}\\ \text{A}& \text{Anteater}& \text{1}& \text{Tasmanian tiger cat}\\ \text{B}& \text{Lemur}& \text{2}& \text{Flying phalanger}\\ \text{C}& \text{Bobcat}& \text{3}& \text{Spotted cuscus}\\ \text{D}& \text{Flying squirrel}& \text{4}& \text{Numbat}\end{array}$

Answer 1

The process of evolution of different species in a given geographical area starting from a common ancestor, radiating to other geographical areas, where the new environmental conditions brought about the suitable adaptation in the descendent population is called adaptive radiation. Australian marsupials and placental mammals exhibit adaptive radiation.

Convergent evolution is the independent evolution of similar features in different organisms because they live in similar environments. When more than one adaptive radiation appears to have occurred in an isolated geographical area with different habitats, it can also be referred to as convergent evolution.

Some of the marsupials of Australia resemble placental mammals that live in similar habitats of other continents. They shows evolutionary convergence. These marsupials arrived in Australia before its separation and evolved in isolation. The two groups became more alike because natural selection favoured similar changes for survival in the similar habitats. Examples are given below. Hence, the correct option is a.

Figure: Convergent evolution of Australian marsupials and placental mammals