Q. Which of the following set shows convergent evolution?
Solution:
The evolution of various types of placental mammals from an ancestral stock within the Australian island continent is an example of adaptive radiation. If more than one adaptive radiation occurs in the same region (adaptive radiation in marsupials and placental mammals in the same Australian continent) representing different habitats, similarities develop among the organisms of the same habitat. This can be termed as convergent evolution.
Placental Mammals Corresponding Australian Marsupials A1. Mole A2. Marsupial mole B1. Anteater B2. Numbat (anteater) C1. Mouse C2. Marsupial mouse D1. Lemur D2. Spotted cuscus E1. Flying squirrel E2. Flying phalanger F1. Bobcat F2. Tasmanian tiger cat G1. Wolf G2. Tasmanian wolf
| Placental Mammals | Corresponding Australian Marsupials |
| A1. Mole | A2. Marsupial mole |
| B1. Anteater | B2. Numbat (anteater) |
| C1. Mouse | C2. Marsupial mouse |
| D1. Lemur | D2. Spotted cuscus |
| E1. Flying squirrel | E2. Flying phalanger |
| F1. Bobcat | F2. Tasmanian tiger cat |
| G1. Wolf | G2. Tasmanian wolf |