Which of the following statements best explains the different body shapes found in skates and rays compared to sharks?
A) Sharks are more closely related to the tube-like lampreys than are skates and rays.
B) Skates and rays need enlarged pectoral fins to help them stay level in turbulent water, while sharks do not.
C) Skates and rays exchange gases across their skin and thus require a high surface-area-to-volume ratio, while sharks use gills to respire.
D) Sharks are streamlined for active swimming at mid-depths, while skates move about mostly on the ocean bed.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Sharks are streamlined to facilitate efficient swimming in open water, where they spend most of their time actively hunting or moving. In contrast, skates and rays have evolved flatter bodies and enlarged pectoral fins, adaptations that enable them to live and move primarily along the ocean floor. This difference in body shape reflects their different lifestyles and habitats.

Which of the Following Statements Best Explains the Different Body