Question

Reptiles were the first tetrapods to break from water - i.e. they didn't need water for reproduction. In this way, they are analogous to ______?

1) Amphibians
2) Mammals
3) Birds
4) Insects

Answer 1

Reptiles are analogous to birds, as both can lay shelled eggs and reproduce on land, making them independent of water for their life cycle.

Step-by-step explanation:

Reptiles were the first tetrapods to reproduce independently of water due to the development of amniotic eggs, allowing them to inhabit a wider range of terrestrial environments. When asking which other group of animals they are analogous to in this respect, the correct answer is birds, as both are amniotes that can the reproduce on land. Like reptiles, birds evolved from reptilian ancestors and share similar reproductive strategies, including laying shelled eggs on land and not requiring water for their life cycle.

On the other hand, amphibians must lay their eggs in water, mammals primarily give birth to live young, and insects, which also lay eggs on land, are not tetrapods but belong to a different group called arthropods.