Snakes, which lack limbs, evolved from vertebrates that had legs. This is an example of
A) convergent evolution.
B) an evolutionary reversal.
C) a synapomorphy.
D) a homology.
E) None of the above

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fact that snakes evolved from ancestors with legs means that they underwent an evolutionary reversal, where a trait that was present in their ancestors (legs) was lost in their descendants (snakes). Convergent evolution involves unrelated species evolving similar traits, a synapomorphy is a shared derived trait among a group of organisms, and homology refers to traits that are similar due to a shared ancestry. None of these options accurately describe the evolution of snakes losing their limbs.

Snakes, Which Lack Limbs, Evolved from Vertebrates That Had Legs