Which of the following elucidates the paleontological evidence in favour of organic evolution?
Which of the following elucidates the paleontological evidence in favour of organic evolution?
The correct option is C Archaeopteryx
Organic evolution is the theory which states that present day plants and animals have their origins related to the pre-existing forms and they have remarkable characteristic differences between their ancestors and the upcoming generation. These differences in the organisms are due to alterations in successive generations.
Archaeopteryx forms the dead connecting link between reptiles and birds, which existed during the Palaeozoic era about 180 million years ago. It provides fossil- proof for the organic evolution of birds from reptiles (dinosaurs).
Its had feathers, beak, wings and an intimate fusion of the skull bones as seen in the birds. It had teeth, a weak sternum and free caudal vertebrae like in reptiles.
Figure : Archaeopteryx
Duck-billed platypus is a living egg-laying mammal which is endemic (native) to eastern Australia. They have mammary glands, hair, and a diaphragm just like mammals. They produce eggs just like reptiles.
Figure : Duck-billed platypus
Industrial melanism of the peppered moth is an example of natural selection of dark coloured moth over the white moth due to their survival and reproductive advantage.
Figure : Peppered moth
Darwin’s finches are the small black birds which are found in Galapagos Islands and are closely related to the species belonging to the South American mainland. Adaptive radiation is the process exhibited by different species of finches owing to biogeographical isolation from the parent stock.
On various islands of Galapagos, finch species became adapted to efficiently feed on the food resources available like cactus, seeds, insects etc. This, over a period of time, gave rise to different beak shapes and sizes and in turn several species in the individual islands. So it supports adaptive radiation.
Figure : Darwin’s finches
Organic evolution is the theory which states that present day plants and animals have their origins related to the pre-existing forms and they have remarkable characteristic differences between their ancestors and the upcoming generation. These differences in the organisms are due to alterations in successive generations.
Archaeopteryx forms the dead connecting link between reptiles and birds, which existed during the Palaeozoic era about 180 million years ago. It provides fossil- proof for the organic evolution of birds from reptiles (dinosaurs).
Its had feathers, beak, wings and an intimate fusion of the skull bones as seen in the birds. It had teeth, a weak sternum and free caudal vertebrae like in reptiles.
Figure : Archaeopteryx
Duck-billed platypus is a living egg-laying mammal which is endemic (native) to eastern Australia. They have mammary glands, hair, and a diaphragm just like mammals. They produce eggs just like reptiles.
Figure : Duck-billed platypus
Industrial melanism of the peppered moth is an example of natural selection of dark coloured moth over the white moth due to their survival and reproductive advantage.
Figure : Peppered moth
Darwin’s finches are the small black birds which are found in Galapagos Islands and are closely related to the species belonging to the South American mainland. Adaptive radiation is the process exhibited by different species of finches owing to biogeographical isolation from the parent stock.
On various islands of Galapagos, finch species became adapted to efficiently feed on the food resources available like cactus, seeds, insects etc. This, over a period of time, gave rise to different beak shapes and sizes and in turn several species in the individual islands. So it supports adaptive radiation.
Figure : Darwin’s finches
