The snake family Typhlopidae consists of small,burrowing species with vestigial eyes.They are found in Australia,sub-Saharan Africa,India and some adjacent areas,and South America.What is the most likely explanation for this distribution?
A)rafting to the different continents from the point of origin on one of these continents
B)convergent evolution in the different regions
C)origin on Gondwana followed by continental drift and some range expansion
D)all of the above

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The distribution of Typhlopidae across continents that were once part of Gondwana suggests that the family originated on the supercontinent. The populations were then separated due to continental drift and subsequently underwent range expansion to their current distribution. Rafting explains the long-distance distribution of some species but seems unlikely to be the only explanation for such widespread distribution. Convergent evolution may have led to similarities in form in different regions, but it cannot explain the global distribution of Typhlopidae. Therefore, the best choice is C.

The Snake Family Typhlopidae Consists of Small,burrowing Species with Vestigial