[Campbell Biology P.777] Regarding the evolution of swim bladders and lungs in Osteichthyans... | Practice Question

Regarding the evolution of swim bladders and lungs in Osteichthyans, which statement is supported by the provided text?

  • A: Charles Darwin correctly proposed that the lungs of tetrapods evolved from swim bladders.
  • B: Lungs are a more recent evolutionary development than swim bladders in all fish lineages.
  • C: Swim bladders in some fish lineages evolved from lungs that were present in early osteichthyans.
  • D: The text does not provide any information about the evolutionary relationship between swim bladders and lungs.

Explanation

The text explicitly states: 'Charles Darwin proposed that the lungs of tetrapods evolved from swim bladders, but strange as it may sound, the opposite seems to be true: Swim bladders arose from lungs.' It further elaborates that 'lungs arose in early osteichthyans; later, swim bladders evolved from lungs in some lineages.'