Question

The evolution of marsupials in the continents of Australia and South America is an example of

• A. Convergent evolution
• B. Divergent evolution
• C. Parallel evolution
• D. None of the above

Answer 1

The correct option is C Parallel evolution

The supercontinent Pangea broke up to form Laurasia (the northern continent) and Gondwana (the southern continent) around 200 million years ago. Later, as Laurasia and Gondwana began to break up to form separate continents, the marsupials too, got separated. One group got isolated on the Australian island, while the other group in South America. The marsupials in both these continents evolved in a parallel manner and hence, this pattern of evolution is known as parallel evolution.