Some animals have no gills when young, but then develop gills that grow larger as the animal grows larger. What is the reason for this increase in gill size?
A) The young of these animals are much more active than the adult, which leads to a higher BMR (basal metabolic rate) and, therefore, a higher need for oxygen.
B) Relative to their volume, the young have sufficient skin surface area across which they can transport all the oxygen they need.
C) The older, larger animals have a lower basal metabolic rate.
D) Relative to their surface area, the young have more body volume in which they can store oxygen for long periods of time.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The young of these animals have a small body volume and a large surface area, which allows for efficient gas exchange through their skin. However, as they grow larger, their body volume increases faster than their surface area, which means that the gills must also grow larger in order to maintain effective oxygen exchange.

Some Animals Have No Gills When Young, but Then Develop