Question

Which factor most likely caused animals and plants in India to differ greatly from species in nearby southeast Asia?

a. The species became separated by convergent evolution.
b. The climates of the two regions are similar.
c. India is in the process of separating from the rest of Asia.
d. India was a separate continent until 45 million years ago.

Answer 1

The correct answer is option d. "India was a separate continent until 45 million years ago".

Step-by-step explanation:

135 million years ago, Pangea was a single continent that became separated into Laurasia in the north and Gondwana in the south. India was part of Gondwana along with Australia, South America, Antarctica and Africa. However, as a result of tectonic activity India got separated from Gondwana. This period of time at which India was a separated continent is the factor that most likely explains why animals and plants in India differ greatly from species in nearby southeast Asia. At being a separated continent, India's plants and animals go through an independent evolutionary process which made them very different an unique from nearby species.