Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements.
Some species of turtles are herbivores.
Some species of fish are herbivores.
Some species of marine mammals are herbivores.
Some species of snakes are viviparous.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
1 and 3
2, 3 and 4
2 and 4
All of these
Correct Answer: D
Detailed Solution
The feeding habits of different turtle species vary, and some species are herbivorous.
Adult green sea turtles mainly feed on seagrasses and algae. Therefore, Statement 1 is correct.
Hatchling and juvenile green sea turtles may have a more mixed diet, whereas they become mainly herbivorous as adults.
Herbivorous species are also found among fish.
Fish such as parrotfish and surgeonfish mainly consume algae and other plant material. Therefore, Statement 2 is correct.
These herbivorous fish play an important role in controlling excessive algal growth on coral reefs.
Some marine mammals are also herbivorous.
Dugongs and manatees feed on seagrasses and other aquatic vegetation. Therefore, Statement 3 is correct.
The dugong is a fully marine mammal, whereas manatees may occur in marine, brackish and freshwater habitats.
Most snakes are oviparous and lay eggs.
However, boas, anacondas, certain vipers and many sea snakes give birth to live young.
Therefore, some species of snakes are viviparous or live-bearing. Hence, Statement 4 is correct.
In viviparity, embryos develop inside the mother’s body, and the young are born alive.
Ovoviviparity also occurs in certain reptiles, in which eggs develop and hatch within the mother’s body.
These variations in feeding and reproduction reflect the adaptations of species to different habitats.