Which of the following characteristics should have been possessed by the first animals to colonize land?
1)were probably herbivores (ate photosynthesizers)
2)had four appendages
3)had the ability to resist dehydration
4)had lobe-finned fishes as ancestors
5)were invertebrates
A) 3 only
B) 3 and 5
C) 1, 3, and 5
D) 2, 3, and 4
E) 1, 2, 3, and 4

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The ability to resist dehydration is crucial for survival on land. Being herbivores or having lobe-finned fishes as ancestors are not necessary characteristics for the first animals to colonize land. Invertebrates were indeed some of the first animals to colonize land, so this is also a relevant characteristic. Having four appendages is not necessarily required.

Which of the Following Characteristics Should Have Been Possessed by the First