Which of the following statements is true about the evolution of rept…

The correct answer is Option (2) → Reptiles lay thick-shelled eggs that do not dry up in the sun.

In the history of vertebrates, the lobefins gave rise to the first amphibians, and the amphibians evolved into reptiles. The key change was the egg. Amphibian eggs dry up easily, but reptiles lay thick-shelled eggs that do not dry up in the sun, so they could breed away from water.

Option (1) Reptiles evolved from fish. — Incorrect. Reptiles evolved from amphibians. It was the amphibians that came from the fish (lobefins).

Option (2) Reptiles lay thick-shelled eggs that do not dry up in the sun. — Correct. The thick shell keeps the egg from drying up in the sun, unlike the eggs of amphibians.

Option (3) Reptiles are viviparous like mammals. — Incorrect. Reptiles lay eggs. Giving birth to young ones (viviparity) is the feature of most mammals, not reptiles.

Option (4) All reptiles evolved into mammals. — Incorrect. Reptiles still live today: turtles, tortoises and crocodiles are their modern descendants, and small reptiles of that era still exist. So not all reptiles turned into mammals.

NCERT Extract:
A Brief Account of Evolution – “… The amphibians evolved into reptiles. They lay thickshelled eggs which do not dry up in sun unlike those of amphibians. Again we only see their modern day descendents, the turtles, tortoises and crocodiles. In the next 200 millions years or so, reptiles of different shapes and sizes dominated on earth.”