Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A): The morphological similarities between the placental wolf and the Tasmanian wolf are a result of convergent evolution. Reason (R): When more than one adaptive radiation occurs in an isolated geographical area representing different habitats, it leads to convergent evolution. In the light of the abo

Step-by-step solution

Assertion (A) is true. The placental wolf and the Tasmanian wolf (a marsupial) are distantly related but show morphological similarities because they evolved to occupy similar ecological niches. This is a classic example of convergent evolution. Reason (R) is true and correctly explains the assertion. According to NCERT, when more than one adaptive radiation occurs in an isolated geographical area (like Australia), it results in the evolution of similar features in distantly related groups, which is termed converge