Q.164 Zoology ⭐ 360° Option Elimination Active

NEET 2026 Zoology Question 164 Solution

Topic: Evolution · Official NTA Booklet Code 50

Question

Adaptive radiation in placental mammals and Australian Marsupials leading to similarity between distant species is an example of

(1)divergent evolution
(2)convergent evolution
(3)founder effect
(4)genetic drift

✓

Verified Against NTA Final Answer Key

Option (2) : Convergent evolution

📚 Evolution Medium

📋 Given Parameters & Problem Setup

Phenomenon Multiple adaptive radiations in isolated geographical areas

Example Placental mammals of North America resembling Australian marsupials (Placental wolf vs. Tasmanian wolf)

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The 30-Second Exam Hall Shortcut: ⚡ Dual Radiation Principle

⏱️ Save ~40 seconds

Multiple Adaptive Radiations in isolated areas = CONVERGENT EVOLUTION!

1 Read key phrase: "When more than one adaptive radiation appeared to have occurred in an isolated geographical area...".

2 NCERT verbatim: "When more than one adaptive radiation appeared to have occurred in an isolated geographical area (representing different habitats), one can call this convergent evolution."

3 Example: Placental wolf and Tasmanian wolf look remarkably similar because they fill the same ecological niche in separate lineages.

4 Match Option (2): Convergent evolution.

5 Bubble Option (2) in under 15 seconds!

🛡️

Why You Can 100% Trust This Shortcut: NCERT Biology · Evolution (Origin of Life: Miller-Urey experiment synthesized amino acids in reducing atmosphere).

📐

Step-by-Step Rigorous Workflow & Mathematical Proof

Step 1

Adaptive Radiation vs. Convergent Evolution

Adaptive radiation within a single lineage produces diverse forms (e.g., Darwin’s finches on Galapagos or Australian marsupials starting from an ancestral stock).

\text{Single Ancestral Stock} \xrightarrow{\text{Radiation}} \text{Diverse Species} \quad (\text{Adaptive Radiation})

• Marsupials radiated into marsupial mole, banded anteater, Tasmanian wolf, sugar glider, etc.

Step 2

Convergence of Parallel Adaptive Radiations

When two independent lineages (placental mammals and Australian marsupials) undergo adaptive radiation into similar ecological niches, species in both lineages evolve analogous structures and similar appearances. This parallel adaptation of different lineages to similar environmental pressures is convergent evolution.

\text{Placental Wolf (Placental)} \xleftrightarrow{\text{Convergent Evolution}} \text{Tasmanian Wolf (Marsupial)}

• Placental anteater resembles Numbat; Lemur resembles Spotted cuscus; Bobcat resembles Tasmanian tiger cat.

⭐

360° Option Elimination Engine Key Feature

Diagnose every choice: Know exactly why the right option works and why distractors fail.

4-Option Deep Scan

1 A

✗ Incorrect

Verdict & Scientific Reason:

Incorrect. Divergent evolution occurs within a single ancestral lineage radiating outwards (homology), whereas here two distinct lineages evolve towards similar forms.

⚠️

Student Fallacy (Why candidates pick this trap): Confusing within-lineage radiation (divergence) with cross-lineage resemblance (convergence).

2 B

✓ 100% Correct

Verdict & Scientific Reason:

100% correct. NCERT explicitly designates the resemblance between placental mammals and Australian marsupials as convergent evolution.

💡

Why this is airtight: None; textbook verbatim.

3 C

✗ Incorrect

Verdict & Scientific Reason:

Incorrect. Saltation refers to single-step large mutation (de Vries), which is unrelated to this macroevolutionary pattern.

⚠️

Student Fallacy (Why candidates pick this trap): Confusing saltational mutation theory with ecological convergence.

4 D

✗ Incorrect

Verdict & Scientific Reason:

Incorrect. "Adaptive divergence" describes divergence away from a common ancestor, not independent lineages evolving similar traits.

⚠️

Student Fallacy (Why candidates pick this trap): Using an inverted evolutionary descriptor.

⚠️

NTA Trap Alert: Radiation vs. Convergence Semantics Trap

One marsupial radiating into many is adaptive radiation. But comparing a placental mammal to a marsupial counterpart is CONVERGENT EVOLUTION.

🛡️ How to avoid the -1 mark: Ask: Are we comparing one lineage branching out (radiation), or two lineages meeting at the same design (convergence)? Two lineages = Convergence.

📖

Core NEET Syllabus Standard

NEET Biology Core Syllabus · Evolution Standard Benchmark

Core Scientific Principle Tested:

"When more than one adaptive radiation occurs in isolated geographical areas, it leads to convergent evolution."

Syllabus Focus: Adaptive Radiation & Convergent Evolution

✓ Core NEET UG Syllabus Anchor Syllabus & Academic Standards ↗

Two Radiations Converge: Marsupial Wolf + Placental Wolf = Convergent evolution!

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NEET 2026 Zoology Question 164 Solution

Question

The 30-Second Exam Hall Shortcut: ⚡ Dual Radiation Principle

Step-by-Step Rigorous Workflow & Mathematical Proof

Adaptive Radiation vs. Convergent Evolution

Convergence of Parallel Adaptive Radiations

360° Option Elimination Engine Key Feature

NTA Trap Alert: Radiation vs. Convergence Semantics Trap

Core NEET Syllabus Standard

Ready to attempt under real exam pressure?

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