Question

Which of the following is the Darwinian reason to describe how camels came to have flat, broad hooves?

• A. The camels that ventured further into the desert acquired broader feet, which were passed along to their offspring
• B. Those animals that had the broadest hooves were the most attractive to the opposite sex
• C. The animals that had the broadest hooves were able to travel farther and find water more easily than those that couldnt and subsequently perished
• D. Those animals with the broadest feet are descended from the camels that got broad feet from stomping out the forest fires that created the desert in the first place
• E. In the game of life, random events will move evolution toward the most successful adaptations possible

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

The animals that had the broadest hooves were able to travel farther and find water more easily than those that couldnt and subsequently perished

Darwin's “survival of fittest” refers to the unequal ability of individuals to survive and reproduce based on suitability of their inherited characters to prevailing environmental conditions. The presence of broadest hooves prevents sinking its legs in sand and help to walk in the desert in search of water and food. This adaptation was favored by natural selection as camel population having broad hooves were at survival advantage to those lacking it. And the naturally selected population with broad hooves increased in number while those lacking it perished due to their inability/lesser ability to walk in the desert and find water. Thus, the correct answer is option C.