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Question
The Tasmanian wolf (a marsupial) and American wolf (a placental) may have evolved along similar lines because of similar selection pressure acting on similar gene pool if so they are an example of
The Tasmanian wolf (a marsupial) and American wolf (a placental) may have evolved along similar lines because of similar selection pressure acting on similar gene pool if so they are an example of
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Solution
The correct option is C Convergent evolution
Convergent evolution is the presence of similar features in animals of different lineages. The structures in these animals have similar functions but absent in the common ancestors and hence they are analogous structures and not homologous. The Tasmanian wolf and the American wolf have several morphological similarities but they have unrelated ancestral lineages. Hence, they show convergent evolution. Such convergence of functional, morphological and structural traits from phylogenetically unrelated species may be a result of random mutation due to selection pressure. Thus, the correct answer is 'Convergent evolution.'
Convergent evolution is the presence of similar features in animals of different lineages. The structures in these animals have similar functions but absent in the common ancestors and hence they are analogous structures and not homologous. The Tasmanian wolf and the American wolf have several morphological similarities but they have unrelated ancestral lineages. Hence, they show convergent evolution. Such convergence of functional, morphological and structural traits from phylogenetically unrelated species may be a result of random mutation due to selection pressure.
Thus, the correct answer is 'Convergent evolution.'
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