Similar fusiform body shapes are seen in sharks, penguins, and aquatic mammals because
A)natural selection has no limits when different organisms face the same challenge.
B)respiration through gills is enhanced by having a fusiform shape.
C)the laws of physics constrain the shapes that are possible for aquatic animals that swim very fast.
D)the fusiform shape is coded by the same gene in all three types of animals.
E)all three types evolved from ancestral forms that fly in the air.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The laws of physics constrain the shapes that are possible for aquatic animals that swim very fast. The fusiform shape reduces drag and turbulence, allowing for faster swimming. This selective pressure leads to convergence in body shape among distantly related aquatic animals such as sharks, penguins, and aquatic mammals.

Similar Fusiform Body Shapes Are Seen in Sharks, Penguins, and Aquatic