About 70 years ago, cane toads were introduced to Australia. The toads are toxic to some species of snakes, such as Dendrelaphis punctulatus. The longer an individual snake is, the greater its chance of survival after eating a cane toad. Which of the following did scientists most likely observe in the D. punctulatussnake population as a result of the presence of the cane toads?

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Since longer snakes have a greater chance of survival after eating a cane toad, over time, natural selection would favor these longer individuals. They would be more likely to survive, reproduce, and pass on their genes for longer body length, leading to an increase in the average body length in the population.

About 70 Years Ago, Cane Toads Were Introduced to Australia