What type of evolution is described in the following scenario:Porcupines in the United States have quills (spines) that are attached to their skins. When they feel threatened, they can tense up their bodies, causing the quills to shoot out. These spiny quills can pierce the skin of attacking animals, causing injury and pain. Although not closely related to the porcupine, hedgehogs that live throughout parts of Europe also have protective spines that they use to defend themselves from attacking animals.

PATTERNS OF EVOLUTION

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Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]

What type of evolution is described in the following scenario:Porcupines in the United States have quills (spines) that are attached to their skins. When they feel threatened, they can tense up their bodies, causing the quills to “shoot out.” These spiny quills can pierce the skin of attacking animals, causing injury and pain. Although not closely related to the porcupine, hedgehogs that live throughout parts of Europe also have protective spines that they use to defend themselves from attacking animals.

A	Coevolution
B	Adaptive Radiation (Divergent Evolution)
C	Convergent Evolution
D	Gradualism

Explanation:

Detailed explanation-1: -Porcupines in the United States have quills (spines) that are attached to their skins. When they feel threatened, they can tense up their bodies causing the quills to “shoot out". These spiny quills can pierce the skin of attacking animals, causing injury and pain.

Detailed explanation-2: -Examples of convergent evolution include the relationship between bat and insect wings, shark and dolphin bodies, and vertebrate and cephalopod eyes. Analogous structures arise from convergent evolution, but homologous structures do not.

Detailed explanation-3: -Convergent vs Divergent Evolution Convergent evolution is when two species with different ancestral origins develop similar characteristics, while divergent evolution refers to when two species diverge from a common ancestor and develop different characteristics.

Detailed explanation-4: -Convergent evolution can be seen in the structurally similar eyes of Squid and humans, in the mobility of worms and snakes with hot legs, and in the wings of bats and birds.

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