Answered

Scientists notice structural similarities between fossils of a land animal and an aquatic organism. They know the similarities are not a result of the two organisms having to adapt to similar environments. What can they attribute the structural similarities to?


convergent evolution

common ancestry

transitional evolution

similar mating habits

Verified Answer :

Kalahira

The correct answer is common ancestry. Common ancestry is the explanation for species from completely different environments having similar features. For example: there is fossil evidence that whales are actually evolved from wolf-like animals due to fossil evidence of a transitional evolutionary stage (this is the fossil that can help provide evidence of this common ancestry) that shows a common ancestor between land mammals and whales.

marianaegarciaperedo

When homologous structures are found in different groups, an ancestry relationship can be stablished between them. Otion B. Scientists can attribute the structural similarities to common ancestry.

Ancestry between groups

Fossils provide good information about the existing relationship between different groups,

  • ancient and modern
  • aquatic and terrestrial

The existing homologous structures between these organisms might be relatively similar, suggesting a common origin.

These structures can show changes in the number of pieces composing them, their arrangement pattern, or their sizes and development degree. These differences reflect the changes that the groups suffered through evolution.

The pattern in which the composing pieces are arranged is useful to study the lineage evolution.

By looking at the structures' composition and arrangement, scientists can interpret how evolutive processes occurred.

Scientists can attribute the structural similarities to common ancestry.

You can learn more about common ancestry at

https://brainly.com/question/1358940

https://brainly.com/question/13553174

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