Zoology · Evolution
NEET (UG) 2023 — Question 135
Select the correct group/set of Australian Marsupials exhibiting adaptive radiation.
- Option A:Correct
Numbat, Spotted cuscus, Flying phalanger
- Option B:
Mole, Flying squirrel, Tasmanian tiger cat
- Option C:
Lemur, Anteater, Wolf
- Option D:
Tasmanian wolf, Bobcat, Marsupial mole
Answer: A
Step-by-step solution
Adaptive radiation is the evolutionary process where a single ancestral species diversifies into many species adapted to different environments. Australian marsupials are a classic example, having diversified into many ecological niches.
Option A lists numbat, spotted cuscus, and flying phalanger — all are Australian marsupials that evolved through adaptive radiation.
Option B is incorrect because the mole and flying squirrel are placental mammals, not marsupials.
Option C is incorrect because lemur and wolf are placental mammals.
Option D is incorrect because the bobcat is a placental mammal.
Therefore, the correct answer is A.
Answer key and solution verified before publishing.
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- Exam
- NEET (UG) 2023
- Paper
- 2023 paper
- Subject
- Zoology
- Chapter
- Evolution
- Topic
- What is Adaptive Radiation