Question

The contraction of auricular muscles around the ear produces a range of motions in the ears of domesticated animals as well as the macaque monkey and most other monkeys. Thanks to these muscular motions, the ears act as antennae and can be used to sense danger and locate prey. Humans and other primates such as the orangutan and chimpanzee have ear muscles that are minimally developed and non-functional. How are these vestigial ear muscles an example of natural selection?

A) The contraction of auricular muscles around the ear produces a range of motions in the ears of domesticated animals as well as the macaque monkey and most other monkeys. Thanks to these muscular motions, the ears act as antennae and can be used to sense danger and locate prey. Humans and other primates such as the orangutan and chimpanzee have ear muscles that are minimally developed and non-functional. How are these vestigial ear muscles an example of natural selection?

B) Most primates are not victims of predators and they are not predators themselves so they do not need this trait.

C) In most primates, the inability to move the ear has been replaced by the ability to stand upright on two legs.

D) A muscle attached to the ear that cannot move the ear has no function.

Answer 1

In most primates the inability to move the ear has been replaced by the ability to turn the head on a horizontal plane as well as having peripheral vision. The function of the movable ear has been replaced by the function of other parts of the muscular and sensory systems.

I just took the test so A is right

Answer 2

The correct answer is letter C, in most primates, the inability to move the ear has been replaced by the ability to stand upright on two legs. This is because movement was much of a need to these primates than hunting for food. They needed to be agile to locate specific places where sources of food are abundant.