Question

The walking catfish is a species of fish that walks on land using its pectoral fins. During drought conditions, when there is little water in its habitat, the walking catfish can use its pectoral fins to get across land to areas with water. Which of these will MOST LIKELY happen to a population of walking catfish over time if all nearest aquatic environments dry up permanently?

A. Walking catfish with small pectoral fins are more likely to survive a trip to distant areas of water. The population is likely to evolve to have smaller pectoral fins.

B. Walking catfish with large pectoral fins are more likely to survive a trip to distant areas of water. The population is likely to evolve to have larger pectoral fins.

C. Walking catfish with large pectoral fins and those with small pectoral fins are equally likely to survive a trip to distant areas of water. Both types survive, so evolution is unlikely to occur.

D. Walking catfish with large pectoral fins and those with small pectoral fins are equally likely to not survive the trip to distant areas of water. Both types of catfish will then become extinct. ​

Answer 1

The walking catfish with larger pectoral fins are more likely to survive journeys over land to find water, leading to the evolution of larger pectoral fins in the population over time.

Step-by-step explanation:

When considering the question of what will most likely happen to a population of walking catfish if all nearest aquatic environments dry up permanently, we have to look at the principles of natural selection and adaptations. The walking catfish uses its pectoral fins to move across land, especially during periods of drought. The scenario suggests that larger pectoral fins might be advantageous for survival given the need to travel longer distances to find water, based on the information provided about the transition of certain fish to land and their evolved body design for locomotion.

With that understanding, the correct answer is B. Walking catfish with large pectoral fins are more likely to survive a trip to distant areas of water. Over time, this likely leads to the evolution of the population to have larger pectoral fins due to the selective pressure of land travel in search of water. If walking catfish with smaller pectoral fins are less capable of making the trip, they may not survive to reproduce, thus larger fins would become more prevalent in the population.

Answer 2

I chose d

Step-by-step explanation: