Explain the significance of the following adaptations. Jaws Lungs Internal ferti

Question

Explain the significance of the following adaptations. Jaws Lungs Internal fertilization and amniote egg Three chambered heart and paired legs Four chambered heart and fur or feathers Hollow and fused bones, sex organs reduced in non-breeding, season Flow through lungs Reptiles were the first group to be independent of the aquatic environment. characteristics are seen in reptiles that are different from amphibians and contribute to success on land? List the characteristics that distinguish between the following groups of vertebrates and give a specific example of each. Jawless fishes Cartilaginous fishes Bony fishes Amphibians Reptiles Birds Mammal

Explanation / Answer

Jaws:

Jaws are an example of an extreme evolutionary advantage. The evolution of jaws allows in food capturing, grasping prey and tearing of food. It also serves as a mechanism of defence.Evolution of jaws helped early gnathostomes (jawed fishes) to grasp objects firmly and, in conjuncture with teeth, cut and grind food into small pieces. Early gnathostomes were able to exploit new food resources that were otherwise not available to their jawless relatives.The importance of jaws not only rests on the ability to use new resources but, according to The Jaw Hypothesis, adaptive immune system evolved in jawed vertebrates due to the evolution of jaws.

Lungs:

Some animal groups migrated from aquatic habitats and settled on land. With the transition from aquatic to terestrial environments, development of lung had a very large significance. Development of lung in these terestrial animals enabled them to perform gaseous exchange much more efficiently than their aquatic relatives.

Internal fertilization:

Internal fertilization set free the requirement of use of water for fusion of gametes. With the evolution of internal fertilization, many vertebrate groups came out of water and settled on land. With the development of internal fertilization, these terestrial vertebrates are able to perpeturate without requirement of water for breeding.

Development of amniote egg caused the evolution of oviparity and set some animal groups free of viviparity.

Three chambered heart and paired legs.

Evolution of three chambered heart caused separation of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood to some extent.

Paired legs enabled animals to grasp prey, hold on to other substance, walk swiftly, capture prey etc.

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