Concept explainers
To outline:
The major adaptations that emerged during the evolution of vertebrates from fish to amphibians to reptiles to birds and mammals.
Introduction:
Despite the obstacles to life on land, many species represented a tremendous evolutionary opportunity, especially plants. After land plants evolved, providing the potential source of food for other animals, animals emerged from the water (sea, ocean and so on).
To explain:
The way in which these adaptations increased the fitness of various groups for life on land.
Introduction:
After land plants evolved, providing the potential source of food for other animals, animals emerged from the water (sea, ocean and so on). The earliest evidence of first land animals comes from 430 million-year-old fossil. The first animals to come onto land were arthropods because they already possessed some specific structures that were suited for the life on land.
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Biology
- What three processes characterize many major transitions? Would you consider mammals such as cetaceans (whales & dolphins) moving from terrestrial to aquatic habitats as a major transition? Explainarrow_forwardAmphioxus long has been of interest to zoologists searching for a vertebrate ancestor. Explain why amphioxus captured such interest and how it is different from the hypothesized most recent common ancestor of all vertebrates.arrow_forwardFlight in birds developed over time due to multiple evolutionary steps. The development of feathers, hollow bones, large flight muscles, and efficient gas exchange was vital for flight. Describe the order in which these adaptations likely evolved and explain your reasoning.arrow_forward
- Use the vertebrate lineage to explain how the cutaneous system (the skin) changed and evolved to life on land. Include which classes contributed key features and advancements. Your focus is on terrestrial vertebrates, but explain the basics of aquatic skin to show where the story started. Include how each change benefited that lineage in terms of their evolution to land (what niches did each new feature allow). HINT: Sometimes it's helpful to think in terms of Pros and Cons of the evolution of a feature. If you know I am looking for a word - bold or underline it. If there is the material you need to draw to support your answer upload that in the second question.arrow_forwardDo you think environments directly determine the kinds of adaptations that humans have? Explain and give details.arrow_forwardExplain how vertebrate evolution was led by cephalization, jaw development, and paired limbs. To further your answer, provide three vertebrates as examples.arrow_forward
- Explain how a cladistic classification for the vertebrates produces important regroupings of the traditional vertebrate taxa (refer to Figure 23.2). Why are Agnatha and Reptilia, as traditionally recognized, inconsistent with cladistic principles?arrow_forwardCite and explain the factors that led to an enormous bloom of animal diversity in the Paleozoic era.arrow_forwardPick a specific animal that exists today and research its ancestor from millions of years ago. How has this animal evolved? Compare it to the ancestor and explain why certain changes may have taken place.arrow_forward
- One subgroup of ray-finned fishes, the teleosts, is exceptionally diverse. It includes about half of all vertebrate species. Early in their evolution, teleosts underwent a duplication of their entire diversification. Explain why such a duplication might make the evolution of new traits more likelyarrow_forwardThrough _______, a body part of an ancestor is modified differently in different lines of descent. a. homologous evolution c. adaptive divergence b. morphological convergence d. morphological divergencearrow_forwardDescribe four shared derived characters of vertebrates.arrow_forward