Question

The elongated dorsal processes in the paddle tail of the sea snake genus Hydrophis and the elongated ventral processes in the paddle tail of the sea snake genus Aipysurus represent:

A) the deleterious effects of inbreeding on the shape of vertebrae
B) convergent evolution of the paddle tail phenotype
C) two independent deleterious mutations that were fixed
D) shared derived characters that identify them as sea snakes

Answer 1

The paddle tails of sea snake genera Hydrophis and Aipysurus are an example of convergent evolution, where similar traits evolve independently in species adapting to similar environments.

Step-by-step explanation:

The elongated dorsal processes in the paddle tail of the sea snake genus Hydrophis and the elongated ventral processes in the paddle tail of the sea snake genus Aipysurus represent convergent evolution of the paddle tail phenotype. Tail adaptations like these frequently occur in response to similar ecological roles or environmental pressures, resulting in analogous structures that serve comparable functions.

Convergent evolution is a process where organisms not closely related independently evolve similar traits as a result of having to adapt to similar environments or ecological niches. In the case of Hydrophis and Aipysurus, both have developed paddle-like tails to aid in swimming, despite being different genera. This adaptation is critical for their survival in aquatic environments, enabling them to move efficiently through the water as they search for prey or evade predators. These modifications are not the result of inbreeding effects or deleterious mutations but are beneficial traits that have been naturally selected for within their respective marine habitats.