Mastering Biology Chapter 34 Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is a transitional fossil?

Transitional fossils have features that are intermediate between ancestors and descendants.

Which of the following is a tetrapod?

An amphibian (correct)

A mammal (correct)

A bird (correct)

A reptile (correct)

Which evidence supports the hypothesis that four-limbed animals came from fish?

DNA analysis shows that fish are tetrapods' closest relatives. The fossil record shows more and more tetrapod-like fish before the appearance of tetrapods about 365 million years ago. Both fish and four-limbed animals are vertebrates. Fish and four-limbed animals have very similar embryos.

Why have we NOT found examples in the fossil record of every animal that ever lived on Earth?

To become a fossil, an animal must remain buried for thousands or millions of years until it (and the layer around it) turns to rock. Many fossils remain buried and can only be found when exposed by erosion or excavation. Signup and view all the answers

Why did Shubin and Daeschler search in the Canadian Arctic for fossil evidence of the transition from fish to tetrapods?

They hypothesized that the transitional fossils were in sedimentary rocks older than 365 million years ago, when the first tetrapods appear in the fossil record. Signup and view all the answers

What kind of habitat did Tiktaalik live in?

Tiktaalik lived in a warm, freshwater swamp. Signup and view all the answers

Which were the tetrapod-like characteristics of Tiktaalik?

Interlocking ribs, flat head with eyes on top, a neck. Signup and view all the answers

How did the great transition from fish to tetrapod occur?

The transition occurred gradually over time, so there are many intermediate forms. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following are considered reptilian characteristics of Archaeopteryx?

Teeth in the jaws Signup and view all the answers

Which discovery ultimately overturned the prevailing perception that all dinosaurs were large, slow, and lumbering?

The small theropod dinosaur Deinonychus, which had a large sickle-shaped claw on each of its hind limbs. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following shared characteristics of living birds and theropod dinosaurs provided support to the hypothesis that birds evolved from dinosaurs?

Wishbone (or furcula) Signup and view all the answers

How did Dr. Jack Horner's discovery of dinosaur nesting grounds support the hypothesis that birds evolved from a group of dinosaurs?

It provided evidence that dinosaurs raised and cared for their young in colonies like many birds. Signup and view all the answers

Which pieces of evidence support the hypothesis that the first feathers served a purpose other than flight?

Some feathered theropods were not capable of flight. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about bird evolution are accurate based on the evidence presented?

Feathers may have originally evolved for insulation. Signup and view all the answers

Why was the discovery of organisms, such as Archaeopteryx, that have a mix of traits usually associated with two different groups considered validation of Darwin's theory of evolution?

The discovery provided evidence that species descend with modification from other species. Signup and view all the answers

Without the taxonomic change of birds being considered as part of the reptile clade, what would be the consequence?

Reptilia would be paraphyletic Signup and view all the answers

What is the basis for categorizing the three major groups of mammals?

Method of reproduction. Signup and view all the answers

Vertebrates and tunicates share what structures?

A notochord and a dorsal, hollow nerve cord. Signup and view all the answers

Most members of which of the following groups are most closely associated with a wet or moist environment?

Amphibians Signup and view all the answers

What does the presence of a swim bladder allow typical ray-finned fish to do?

Not sink. Signup and view all the answers

Jaws first occurred in which extant group of fishes?

Chondrichthyans. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following characteristics is shared by a hagfish and a lamprey?

A well-developed notochord. Signup and view all the answers

How did the evolution of the jaw contribute to the diversification of early vertebrate lineages?

It made additional food sources available. Signup and view all the answers

What is the major feature in coelacanths and lungfish that supports the hypothesis that they are a crucial link between other fishes and tetrapods?

Their fins have skeletal and muscular structures similar to amphibian limbs. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following chordates is most likely to look the LEAST like other chordates?

Adult tunicate Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following represents the strongest evidence that two of the three middle ear bones of mammals are homologous to certain reptilian jawbones?

These bones can be observed to move from the developing jaw to the developing middle ear in mammalian embryos. Signup and view all the answers

With which of the following statements would a biologist be most inclined to agree?

Humans and other apes represent divergent lines of evolution from a common ancestor. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a diagnostic feature of the Chordata?

Vertebrae Signup and view all the answers

What did chordate pharyngeal slits first function as?

Suspension-feeding devices. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following are the only extant animals that descended directly from dinosaurs?

Birds. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following characteristics evolved independently in mammals and birds?

Endothermy. Signup and view all the answers

In what respect do hominins differ from all other anthropoids?

Bipedal posture. Signup and view all the answers

Which of these are amniotes?

Turtles Signup and view all the answers

What group of mammals have embryos that spend more time feeding through the placenta than the mother's nipples, young that feed on milk, and a prolonged period of maternal care after leaving the placenta?

Eutheria. Signup and view all the answers

What is believed to be the most significant result of the evolution of the amniotic egg?

Tetrapods are no longer tied to the water for reproduction. Signup and view all the answers

What anatomical change made depth perception possible?

Location of the eyes at the front of the head. Signup and view all the answers

What does the conclusion about Chondrichthyes demonstrate as new evidence emerges?

As new evidence emerges, scientists revise their hypotheses. Signup and view all the answers

Which extant chordates are postulated to be most like the earliest chordates in appearance?

Lancelets. Signup and view all the answers

What does the conclusion about Chondrichthyes demonstrate regarding characteristics in evolution?

Characteristics can be lost in evolution. Signup and view all the answers

Mammals and birds eat more often than reptiles. Which of the following traits shared by mammals and birds best explains this habit?

Endothermy Signup and view all the answers

What is the diagnostic feature of Chondrichthyes?

An endoskeleton of calcified cartilage. Signup and view all the answers

The Neanderthal DNA discovered in Homo sapiens is best explained by?

Gene flow. Signup and view all the answers

Which of these primate groups is most closely related to humans?

Apes Signup and view all the answers

_____ are the oldest known primate group.

Prosimians. Signup and view all the answers

What primates spend the most time walking upright?

Hominids. Signup and view all the answers

Which of these anthropoid groups consists of primates who are mostly tree dwellers and whose forelimbs and hind limbs are about equal in length?

Monkeys Signup and view all the answers

Which anatomical features of the 3.2-million-year-old Australopithecus fossil known as 'Lucy' suggest she was a bipedal hominid?

A much shorter hip bone that is broader from front to back and wraps around the side. Signup and view all the answers

Vertebrates and tunicates have what structures?

A notochord and a dorsal, hollow nerve cord. Signup and view all the answers

Living vertebrates can be divided into two major clades. Select the appropriate pair.

Cyclostomes and Gnathostomes Signup and view all the answers

Unlike eutherians, both monotremes and marsupials?

Have embryonic development outside the uterus. Signup and view all the answers

Which clade does not include humans?

Diapsids Signup and view all the answers

As hominins diverged from other primates, which of the following appeared first?

Bipedal locomotion. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following could be considered the most recent common ancestor of living tetrapods?

A sturdy-finned, shallow-water lobe-fin whose appendages had skeletal supports similar to those of terrestrial vertebrates. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Transitional Fossils and Evolutionary Evidence

Transitional fossils display features that bridge gaps between ancestors and descendants, providing insights into evolutionary processes.
Evidence from DNA analysis indicates that fish are the closest relatives of tetrapods, supporting the evolution of four-limbed animals from fish.
The fossil record reveals increasing similarities between fish and tetrapod-like creatures prior to the emergence of true tetrapods around 365 million years ago.
Both fish and four-limbed animals share vertebrate traits and exhibit similar embryonic development patterns.

Fossilization and Discovery

To fossilize, an organism must be quickly buried in sediment or ash to prevent decomposition, which makes finding fossils rare.
Many fossils remain buried and can only be uncovered through erosion or excavation processes.
Shubin and Daeschler targeted Canadian arctic strata older than 365 million years for fossil evidence of the transition from fish to tetrapods.

Tiktaalik: A Key Transitional Species

Tiktaalik inhabited warm, freshwater swamps and displayed both fishlike and tetrapod-like traits, such as interlocking ribs and a neck.
The gradual transition from fish to tetrapod was marked by a series of intermediate forms.

Archaeopteryx and the Evolution of Birds

The Archaeopteryx fossil, dating back 150 million years, combines birdlike features (feathered wings) with reptilian characteristics (teeth, claws, long tails).
Deinonychus, a small theropod dinosaur, challenged the notion of dinosaurs as large and slow by showcasing agile features.
Shared traits between birds and theropods, such as hollow bones, feathers, S-shaped necks, and the wishbone, support the hypothesis that birds evolved from dinosaurs.

Nesting and Feather Evolution

Dinosaur nesting grounds discovered by Dr. Jack Horner suggest that dinosaurs cared for their young similarly to modern birds.
Some early feathered theropods were not capable of flight, indicating that feathers may have initially evolved for purposes other than flight, such as communication or insulation.

Taxonomy and Classification

Birds are considered part of the reptile clade; this classification change prevents Reptilia from being paraphyletic.
Mammals are classified into three major groups based on their reproductive methods, including monotremes, marsupials, and eutherians.

Characteristics and Features of Chordates

Vertebrates and tunicates share key traits like a notochord and a dorsal, hollow nerve cord.
Most amphibians are closely associated with moist environments, while a swim bladder in ray-finned fish allows buoyancy without constant swimming.

Evolutionary Milestones

Jaws first appeared in chondrichthyans, while the evolution of the jaw facilitated access to new food sources.
Coelacanths and lungfish exhibit limb-like skeletal structures, acting as a critical link between fishes and tetrapods.
Adult tunicates resemble primitive chordates less than other groups, while early chordates are postulated to be similar to lancelets.

Anecdotes from Evolutionary History

The movement of ear bones from jaw development in mammals serves as strong evidence for the evolutionary link between reptiles and mammals.
Hominins distinguish themselves from other anthropoids through bipedalism, with humans most closely related to apes.

Extant Groups and Evolutionary Changes

The oldest acknowledged primate group is the prosimians, while hominids are recognized for their upright walking.
Australopithecus fossils, like "Lucy," exhibit anatomical features indicating bipedal locomotion, critical to hominin evolution.

Final Insights into Evolutionary Relationships

The majority of extant chordates, including humans, fit within established phylogenetic clades, with species descended from common ancestors exhibiting varying adaptations.
Significant traits like endothermy evolved independently in birds and mammals, enhancing their survival and activity levels compared to reptiles.

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Description

Test your knowledge on transitional fossils and the evolution of tetrapods with this quiz. Explore how DNA analysis supports the connection between fish and four-limbed animals. Perfect for students mastering concepts from Chapter 34 in Biology.