Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements.
Statement-I Marsupials are not naturally found in India.
Statement-II Marsupials can thrive only in montane grasslands with no predators.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
Correct Answer: C
Detailed Solution
Statement-I is correct
Marsupials are a group of mammals whose young are born at a highly undeveloped stage and complete much of their development after birth while attached to the mother’s teat.
In many marsupials, the young develop within an external pouch called the marsupium. However, a clearly developed external pouch is not present in every marsupial species.
Living marsupials occur naturally primarily in Australia, New Guinea, parts of Indonesia and South and North America.
Kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, wombats, Tasmanian devils, bandicoots and opossums are examples.
No living marsupial species occurs naturally in India. The Indian bandicoot rat is not a true marsupial bandicoot; it is a placental rodent.
Statement-I is therefore correct.
Statement-II is incorrect
Marsupials are not restricted to predator-free montane grasslands. They occupy an exceptionally wide range of habitats.
Kangaroos and some wallabies inhabit grasslands and open woodlands.
Tree-kangaroos live in the wet tropical forests of Australia and New Guinea.
Koalas inhabit eucalyptus forests, wombats construct underground burrows in open forests and grasslands, while opossums can occupy forests, shrublands and areas close to human settlements.
Some marsupials are themselves carnivorous predators; the Tasmanian devil is a carnivorous marsupial.
Numerous marsupials live in continental habitats where natural predators are present. A complete absence of predators is not an essential condition for their survival.
The three restrictions used in Statement-II—“only”, “montane grasslands” and “no predators”—are therefore all factually incorrect.
Thus, Statement-I is correct and Statement-II is incorrect. The correct answer is (c).