NEET2023ZoologyEvolutionActual
Select the correct group/set of Australian Marsupials exhibiting adaptive radiation.
Options
- ALemur, Anteater, Wolf
- BTasmanian Wolf, Bobcat, Marsupial mole
- CNumbat, Spotted cuscus, Flying phalanger
- DMole, Flying squirrel, Tasmanian tiger cat
Correct answer
C. Numbat, Spotted cuscus, Flying phalanger
Step-by-step solution
When more than one adaptive radiation appeared to have occurred in an isolated geographical area, it leads to convergent evolution. Placental mammals in Australia also exhibit adaptive radiation in evolving into varieties of such placental mammals each of which appears to be ‘similar’ to a corresponding marsupial. Numbat, Spotted cuscus, Flying phalanger, Marsupial mouse, Marsupial mole, Tasmanian tiger cat, Tasmanian wolf are Australian marsupials.