Question 1

For the following items, match the extant vertebrate groups with the descriptions.
-May have lungs, or gills, and may use skin as a respiratory surface

Accepted Answer

A) amphibians 
B) nonbird reptiles 
C) chondrichthyans 
D) mammals 
E) birds 
A) amphibians 
B) nonbird reptiles 
C) chondrichthyans 
D) mammals 
E) birds

Question 2

Rank the following in terms of body-size differences that are attributed to sexual dimorphism, from most dimorphic to least dimorphic. 1. Homo sapiens
2) Chimpanzees and bonobos
3) Australopithecus afarensis
4) Homo habilis

Accepted Answer

A) 1, 2, 3, 4 
B) 1, 3, 2, 4 
C) 3, 2, 4, 1 
D) 2, 3, 4, 1 
E) 4, 3, 2, 1 
A) 1, 2, 3, 4 
B) 1, 3, 2, 4 
C) 3, 2, 4, 1 
D) 2, 3, 4, 1 
E) 4, 3, 2, 1

Question 3

The following questions refer to the description below.
While on an intersession course in tropical ecology, Kris pulls a large, snakelike organism from a burrow (the class was granted a collecting permit). The 1-m-long organism has smooth skin, which appears to be segmented. It has two tiny eyes that are hard to see because they seem to be covered by skin. Kris brings it back to the lab at the field station, where it is a source of puzzlement to the class. Kris says that it is a giant oligochaete worm; Shaun suggests it is a legless amphibian; Kelly proposes it belongs to a snake species that is purely fossorial (lives in a burrow).
-What permits reptiles to thrive in arid environments?

Accepted Answer

A) Their bright coloration reflects the intense UV radiation. 
B) A large number of prey and a limited number of predators are available in the desert. 
C) A cartilaginous endoskeleton provides needed flexibility for locomotion on sand. 
D) Their scales contain the protein keratin, which helps prevent dehydration. 
E) They have an acute sense of sight, especially in bright sunlight. 
A) Their bright coloration reflects the intense UV radiation. 
B) A large number of prey and a limited number of predators are available in the desert. 
C) A cartilaginous endoskeleton provides needed flexibility for locomotion on sand. 
D) Their scales contain the protein keratin, which helps prevent dehydration. 
E) They have an acute sense of sight, especially in bright sunlight.

Question 4

Mammals and living birds share all of the following characteristics except

Accepted Answer

A) endothermy. 
B) descent from a common amniotic ancestor. 
C) a dorsal, hollow nerve cord. 
D) an archosaur common ancestor. 
E) an amniotic egg. 
A) endothermy. 
B) descent from a common amniotic ancestor. 
C) a dorsal, hollow nerve cord. 
D) an archosaur common ancestor. 
E) an amniotic egg.

Question 5

Which of these species demonstrates symbolic thought, art, and full-blown language?

Accepted Answer

A) H. heidelbergensis 
B) H. erectus 
C) H. ergaster 
D) H. habilis 
E) H. sapiens 
A) H. heidelbergensis 
B) H. erectus 
C) H. ergaster 
D) H. habilis 
E) H. sapiens

Question 6

At least one of these has been found in all species of eumetazoan animals studied thus far:

Accepted Answer

A) Hox 
B) Dlx 
C) Otx 
D) FOXP2 
E) more than one of these 
A) Hox 
B) Dlx 
C) Otx 
D) FOXP2 
E) more than one of these

Question 7

The lamprey species whose larvae live in freshwater streams, but whose adults live most of their lives in seawater, are similar in this respect to certain species of

Accepted Answer

A) chondrichthyans. 
B) actinopterygians. 
C) lungfishes. 
D) coelacanths. 
E) hagfishes. 
A) chondrichthyans. 
B) actinopterygians. 
C) lungfishes. 
D) coelacanths. 
E) hagfishes.

Question 8

The following questions refer to the description below.
While on an intersession course in tropical ecology, Kris pulls a large, snakelike organism from a burrow (the class was granted a collecting permit). The 1-m-long organism has smooth skin, which appears to be segmented. It has two tiny eyes that are hard to see because they seem to be covered by skin. Kris brings it back to the lab at the field station, where it is a source of puzzlement to the class. Kris says that it is a giant oligochaete worm; Shaun suggests it is a legless amphibian; Kelly proposes it belongs to a snake species that is purely fossorial (lives in a burrow).
-Which characteristic should permit the class to conclude that it is probably not a snake?

Accepted Answer

A) its length 
B) the number of eyes 
C) the size and condition of its eyes 
D) its presence in a burrow 
E) the absence of scales on its surface 
A) its length 
B) the number of eyes 
C) the size and condition of its eyes 
D) its presence in a burrow 
E) the absence of scales on its surface

Question 9

The following questions refer to the description below.
Terry catches a ray-finned fish from the ocean and notices that, attached to its flank, there is an equally long, snakelike organism. The attached organism has no external segmentation, no scales, a round mouth surrounded by a sucker and two small eyes. Terry thinks it might be a marine leech, a hagfish, or a lamprey.
-The feeding mode of the extinct conodonts was

Accepted Answer

A) herbivory. 
B) suspension feeding. 
C) predation. 
D) filter feeding. 
E) absorptive feeding. 
A) herbivory. 
B) suspension feeding. 
C) predation. 
D) filter feeding. 
E) absorptive feeding.

Question 10

The following questions refer to the phylogenetic tree shown in Figure 34.1.

-Differentiation of teeth is observed in

Accepted Answer

A) sharks. 
B) bony fishes. 
C) amphibians. 
D) reptiles. 
E) mammals. 
A) sharks. 
B) bony fishes. 
C) amphibians. 
D) reptiles. 
E) mammals.

Question 11

Which of these hominin traits seems to have occurred before the others?

Accepted Answer

A) tool use 
B) increased brain size 
C) symbolic thought 
D) language 
E) bipedalism 
A) tool use 
B) increased brain size 
C) symbolic thought 
D) language 
E) bipedalism

Question 12

Which of these traits is most strongly associated with the adoption of bipedalism?

Accepted Answer

A) fingerprints 
B) enhanced depth perception 
C) shortened hindlimbs 
D) opposable big toe 
E) repositioning of foramen magnum 
A) fingerprints 
B) enhanced depth perception 
C) shortened hindlimbs 
D) opposable big toe 
E) repositioning of foramen magnum

Question 13

To which of these are the scales of chondrichthyans most closely related in a structural sense?

Accepted Answer

A) osteichthyan scales 
B) reptilian scales 
C) mammalian scales 
D) bird scales 
E) chondrichthyan teeth 
A) osteichthyan scales 
B) reptilian scales 
C) mammalian scales 
D) bird scales 
E) chondrichthyan teeth

Question 14

Which is a genus that has only one extant species?

Accepted Answer

A) hominoids 
B) Homo 
C) anthropoids 
D) hominins 
E) primates 
A) hominoids 
B) Homo 
C) anthropoids 
D) hominins 
E) primates

Question 15

This is a cluster of genes coding for transcription factors involved in the evolution of innovations in early vertebrate nervous systems and vertebrae:

Accepted Answer

A) Hox 
B) Dlx 
C) Otx 
D) FOXP2 
E) more than one of these 
A) Hox 
B) Dlx 
C) Otx 
D) FOXP2 
E) more than one of these

Question 16

Which of the following statements would be least acceptable to most zoologists?

Accepted Answer

A) The extant cephalochordates (lancelets)are contemporaries, not ancestors, of vertebrates. 
B) The first fossils resembling cephalochordates appeared in the fossil record around 550 million years ago. 
C) Recent work in molecular systematics supports the hypothesis that cephalochordates are the most recent common ancestor of all vertebrates. 
D) The extant cephalochordates are the immediate ancestors of the fishes. 
E) Cephalochordates display the same method of swimming as do fishes. 
A) The extant cephalochordates (lancelets)are contemporaries, not ancestors, of vertebrates. 
B) The first fossils resembling cephalochordates appeared in the fossil record around 550 million years ago. 
C) Recent work in molecular systematics supports the hypothesis that cephalochordates are the most recent common ancestor of all vertebrates. 
D) The extant cephalochordates are the immediate ancestors of the fishes. 
E) Cephalochordates display the same method of swimming as do fishes.

Question 17

A new species of aquatic chordate is discovered that closely resembles an ancient form. It has the following characteristics: external armor of bony plates, no paired lateral fins, and a suspension-feeding mode of nutrition. In addition to these, it will probably have which of the following characteristics?

Accepted Answer

A) legs 
B) no jaws 
C) an amniotic egg 
D) endothermy 
A) legs 
B) no jaws 
C) an amniotic egg 
D) endothermy

Question 18

The ray-finned fishes are characterized by

Accepted Answer

A) a bony endoskeleton, operculum, and usually a swim bladder. 
B) a cartilaginous endoskeleton. 
C) an amniotic egg. 
D) teeth that are replaced regularly. 
E) a lateral line system and ears with three semicircular canals. 
A) a bony endoskeleton, operculum, and usually a swim bladder. 
B) a cartilaginous endoskeleton. 
C) an amniotic egg. 
D) teeth that are replaced regularly. 
E) a lateral line system and ears with three semicircular canals.

Question 19

Which of these species was the first to have some members migrate out of Africa?

Accepted Answer

A) H. heidelbergensis 
B) H. erectus 
C) H. ergaster 
D) H. habilis 
E) H. sapiens 
A) H. heidelbergensis 
B) H. erectus 
C) H. ergaster 
D) H. habilis 
E) H. sapiens

Question 20

The following questions refer to the phylogenetic tree shown in Figure 34.1.

-Which is characteristic of all mammals, and only of mammals?

Accepted Answer

A) a four-chambered heart that prevents mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood 
B) giving birth to live young (viviparous) 
C) parental care of offspring 
D) having glands to produce nourishing milk for offspring 
E) using the rib cage to assist in ventilating the lungs 
A) a four-chambered heart that prevents mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood 
B) giving birth to live young (viviparous) 
C) parental care of offspring 
D) having glands to produce nourishing milk for offspring 
E) using the rib cage to assist in ventilating the lungs

Exam 34: Vertebrates

For the following items, match the extant vertebrate groups with the descriptions. -May have lungs, or gills, and may use skin as a respiratory surface

Rank the following in terms of body-size differences that are attributed to sexual dimorphism, from most dimorphic to least dimorphic. 1. Homo sapiens 2) Chimpanzees and bonobos 3) Australopithecus afarensis 4) Homo habilis

Mammals and living birds share all of the following characteristics except

Which of these species demonstrates symbolic thought, art, and full-blown language?

At least one of these has been found in all species of eumetazoan animals studied thus far:

The lamprey species whose larvae live in freshwater streams, but whose adults live most of their lives in seawater, are similar in this respect to certain species of

The following questions refer to the phylogenetic tree shown in Figure 34.1. -Differentiation of teeth is observed in

Which of these hominin traits seems to have occurred before the others?

Which of these traits is most strongly associated with the adoption of bipedalism?

To which of these are the scales of chondrichthyans most closely related in a structural sense?

Which is a genus that has only one extant species?

This is a cluster of genes coding for transcription factors involved in the evolution of innovations in early vertebrate nervous systems and vertebrae:

Which of the following statements would be least acceptable to most zoologists?

The ray-finned fishes are characterized by

Which of these species was the first to have some members migrate out of Africa?

The following questions refer to the phylogenetic tree shown in Figure 34.1. -Which is characteristic of all mammals, and only of mammals?

Introduction: Themes in the Study of Life

The Chemical Context of Life

Water and the Fitness of the Environment

Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life

The Structure and Function of Large Biological Molecules

A Tour of the Cell

Membrane Structure and Function

An Introduction to Metabolism

Cellular Respiration: Harvesting Chemical Energy

Photosynthesis

Cell Communication

The Cell Cycle

Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles

Mendel and the Gene Idea

The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance

The Molecular Basis of Inheritance

From Gene to Protein

Control of Gene Expression

Viruses

Biotechnology

Genomes and Their Evolution

Descent With Modification: a Darwinian View of Life

The Evolution of Populations

The Origin of Species

The History of Life on Earth

Phylogeny and the Tree of Life

Bacteria and Archaea

Protists

Plant Diversity I: How Plants Colonized Land

Plant Diversity Ii: the Evolution of Seed Plants

Fungi

An Introduction to Animal Diversity

Invertebrates

Plant Structure, Growth, and Development

Transport in Vascular Plants

Soil and Plant Nutrition

Angiosperm Reproduction and Biotechnology

Plant Responses to Internal and External Signals

Basic Principles of Animal Form and Function

Animal Nutrition

Circulation and Gas Exchange

The Immune System

Osmoregulation and Excretion

Hormones and the Endocrine System

Animal Reproduction

Animal Development

Neurons, Synapses, and Signaling

Nervous Systems

Sensory and Motor Mechanisms

Animal Behavior

An Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere

Population Ecology

Community Ecology

Ecosystems

Conservation Biology and Restoration Ecology

Filters