The adaptive radiation is represented by which of the following ?

(A) Darwin's finches
(B) Koala and Wombat
(C) Tiger cat and Sugar glider
(D) Spotted cuscus and lemur
(E) Anteater and Numbat

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

(A), (B) and (C) only

The correct answer is Option (3) → (A), (B) and (C) only

The process of evolution of different species in a given geographical area starting from a point and literally radiating to other areas of geography (habitats) is called adaptive radiation. Darwin’s finches represent one of the best examples of this phenomenon. Another example is Australian marsupials.

A number of marsupials, each different from the other evolved from an ancestral stock, but all within the Australian island continent. When more than one adaptive radiation appeared to have occurred in an isolated geographical area (representing different habitats), one can call this 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 (e.g., Placental wolf and Tasmanian wolf-marsupial).

                                 Adaptive radiation of marsupials of Australia