Question

Some dinosaurs had feathers although they could not fly but birds have feathers that help them to fly. In the context of evolution, this means that

• A. reptiles have evolved from birds
• B. there is no evolutionary connection between reptiles and birds
• C. feathers are homologous structures in both the organisms
• D. birds have evolved from reptiles

Answer 1

The correct option is D

birds have evolved from reptiles

The correct option is D.

Explanation of the correct option:

1. Dinosaurs had feathers, but they couldn't fly.
2. Birds later developed the feathers for flight.
3. Birds are considered to have descended from dinosaurs since they were reptiles.

Explanation of the incorrect options:

Option A:

The fact that birds utilize feathers to fly suggests that they descended from reptiles. Dinosaurs possessed feathers, however, they couldn't fly due to their lack of ability to fly.

Option B:

When it comes to living reptiles, birds are most closely related to crocodilians (archosaurs), but when it comes to dinosaurs, birds are descended from theropod dinosaurs.

Option C:

Reptiles have evolved from birds. Feathers in both organisms have a similar look. Reptiles are the ancestors of birds.

Final Answer: Some dinosaurs had feathers although they could not fly birds have feathers that help them to fly. In the context of evolution, this means that the birds have evolved from reptiles.