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Multiple Choice
Which group of animals is considered the first to leave the ocean and give rise to the earliest amphibians?
A
Jawless fishes (Agnatha)
B
Cartilaginous fishes (Chondrichthyes)
C
Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)
D
Lobe-finned fishes (Sarcopterygii)
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the evolutionary context: The transition from aquatic to terrestrial life is a significant event in the history of life on Earth. It involved adaptations that allowed animals to survive in both environments.
Identify the key traits required for this transition: Animals needed structures for locomotion on land (e.g., limbs) and adaptations for breathing air (e.g., lungs or lung-like organs).
Examine the characteristics of lobe-finned fishes (Sarcopterygii): These fishes possess fleshy, lobed fins supported by bones, which are precursors to limbs. They also have lung-like structures that allow them to breathe air, making them well-suited for the transition to land.
Compare lobe-finned fishes to other groups: Jawless fishes (Agnatha) lack paired fins and are primitive. Cartilaginous fishes (Chondrichthyes) have fins but lack the bony structure needed for limb development. Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii) have fins supported by rays, not bones, and are less suited for terrestrial adaptation.
Conclude that lobe-finned fishes (Sarcopterygii) are the group that gave rise to the earliest amphibians, as their anatomical and physiological traits provided the necessary adaptations for life on land.