Refer to the figure shown here. Which of the following would not have been a selective agent or pressure that could lead to the reduction in hindlimbs through time?
A) The animal's body size was too heavy to support the weight on land and hindlimbs were no longer useful.
B) More emphasis was placed on flexing the backbone than on paddling with hindlimbs for swimming.
C) Appendages cause resistance, or drag, when moving through water.
D) Before moving into the ocean, smaller legs were advantageous to escaping predators on land.
E) With the increased size of the tail and its use in swimming, the hindlimbs were not as necessary.

Question

Refer to the figure shown here. Which of the following would not have been a selective agent or pressure that could lead to the reduction in hindlimbs through time? 
A) The animal's body size was too heavy to support the weight on land and hindlimbs were no longer useful. 
B) More emphasis was placed on flexing the backbone than on paddling with hindlimbs for swimming. 
C) Appendages cause resistance, or drag, when moving through water. 
D) Before moving into the ocean, smaller legs were advantageous to escaping predators on land. 
E) With the increased size of the tail and its use in swimming, the hindlimbs were not as necessary.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A fossilized whale may have been amphibious, walking on land and swimming in the sea. swam with an up-and-down tail motion, as modern whales do; its reduced hindlimbs could not have helped in swimming.

Refer to the Figure Shown Here