Concept explainers
The two groups of mammals with the largest number of species are
- a. marsupials and monotremes.
- b. carnivores and whales.
- c. bats and rodents.
- d. apes and lampreys.
Introduction:
Mammals are the animals which give birth to their young ones. Mammals possess mammary gland and feed their young ones. Mammals are found in water, lands as well as some mammals live under ground and on trees.
Answer to Problem 1MC
Correct answer:
Largest number of species is found in bats and rodents. Therefore, option (c) is correct.
Option (c) is given as “bats and rodents”.
Explanation of Solution
Justify reasons for the correct statement:
More 40% of mammals belong to rodentia. These are divided into three suborders: the mouse like rodents, the squirrel like rodents and the cavie like rodents. Rodents are spread in almost every habitat. On the second place the group bat comes, the species of bats are larger in number than many mammals.
Hence, option (c) is correct.
Justify reasons for the incorrect statements:
Option (a) is given as “marsupials and monotremes”.
Monotremes are a very small group of mammals. It includes only five species. Four species of echidna and one species of platypus. 330 species of marsupials are found in Australia. Hence, it is a wrong answer.
Option (b) is given as “carnivores and whales”.
Carnivores are found in larger in number but the species of carnivores do not go beyond rodentia. Whales are the largest animals found on the earth but their range of species is not vast. Hence, it is a wrong answer.
Option (d) is given as “apes and lampreys”.
Lampreys are jawless fishes and do not fall in the group of mammals. Hence, it is a wrong answer.
Hence, options (a), (b), and (d) are incorrect.
Apes and rodents are the groups of mammals which contain largest number of species. Carnivores are innumerous in terms of animals but species count is restricted to few. Apes include gorilla and others but they lack in number of species. Lampreys are the fishes so they do not qualify the category of mammals.
Want to see more full solutions like this?
Chapter 25 Solutions
Biology
- Which of the following best reflects a phylogenetic relationship between chimpanzees and baboons? A. They are grouped together because they live in similar habitats. B. They are grouped together because they have a common ancestor in recent history. C. They are grouped together because they both have an opposable thumb. D. They are grouped together because they both feed their young breast milk.arrow_forwardWhich of the following does not distinguish humans from other primates? a. We are the only primates that use tools. b. We live a long time, including well past our reproductive years (past menopause). c. We manipulate resources on a scale that is not matched by any other animal, primate or otherwise. d. We are bipedal, with non-prehensile feet.arrow_forwardWhich of the following pairs of organisms are most closely related? a sharks and amphibians b ray-finned fish and amphibians c rabbits and birds d primates and rabbitsarrow_forward
- After the mass extinction that occurred 65 million years ago, mammals rapidly diversified to occupy habitats that were previously unavailable to them. What concept does this illustrate? A. Adaptive radiation B. Cretaceous selection C. Reproductive isolationD. Heterozygote advantagearrow_forwardWhich of the following derived traits is unique to New World Monkeys, who live in the trees? Group of answer choices A: a grooming claw. B: a prehensile tail C: female genital swelling D: a sacculated stomacharrow_forwardThe biological variation in living primates provides models for understanding A. Morphology, behavior, adaptation in the evolutionary past, and alternative forms of classification B. Alternative forms of classification C. The uses of anatomical and genetic evidence D. Morphology, behavior, and adaptation in the evolutionary pastarrow_forward
- Despite not sharing a recent common reptilian ancestor, both mammals and birds are homeotherms. Which of the following statements best explains how this trait came about? A. The development of homeothermic capabilities is the result of convergent evolution due to similar selection pressures B. Similar development of homeothermic capabilities is the result of adaptive radiation from a reptilian ancestor C. Birds and mammals diverged from dinosaurs, which were homeothermic D. Mammals and birds both inherited homeothermic capabilities from an ancient reptilian ancestor and then diverged E. Similar homeothermic capabilities in birds and mammals can be explained through homologous structuresarrow_forwardIn a comparison of birds and mammals,the condition of having four limbs is(A) a shared ancestral character.(B) a shared derived character.(C) a character useful for distinguishing birdsfrom mammals.(D) an example of analogy rather than homology.arrow_forwardAustralopiths are_______ . a. a type of monkey c. extinct hominins b. wet-nosed primates d. descendants of H. erectusarrow_forward
- Humans evolved from a. monkeys. b. chimpanzees. c. gorillas. d. an ancestor shared with chimpanzees.arrow_forwardWhich species has the least robust brown ridges? A.Homo habilis B.Homo rudolfensis C.Homo erectus D.Australopithecus afarensisarrow_forwardIf humans were to become extinct, what are three species that might also become extinct and what are three species whose populations would probably grow?arrow_forward
- Biology (MindTap Course List)BiologyISBN:9781337392938Author:Eldra Solomon, Charles Martin, Diana W. Martin, Linda R. BergPublisher:Cengage Learning