Read the following statements carefully: (A) When more than one adaptive radiation appeared to have occurred in an isolated geographical area, it leads to convergent evolution. (B) Darwin's finches and Australian marsupials are both classic examples of adaptive radiation. (C) Lemur and Spotted cuscus are examples of divergent evolution. (D) Placental wolf and Tasmanian wolf share a recent common ancestor. How many of

Step-by-step solution

Statement (A) is correct. According to NCERT, when more than one adaptive radiation occurs in an isolated geographical area representing different habitats, it is called convergent evolution. Statement (B) is correct. Both Darwin's finches in the Galapagos Islands and marsupials in Australia evolved from a single ancestral stock into various forms, which is the definition of adaptive radiation. Statement (C) is incorrect. Lemur (a placental mammal) and Spotted cuscus (an Australian marsupial) evolved independently