[Campbell Biology P.755] According to the text, which of the following statements best descr... | Practice Question
According to the text, which of the following statements best describes the success of arthropods?
A: Arthropods are considered successful primarily due to their ancient fossil record dating back to the Cambrian explosion.
B: Their success is attributed to their segmented body plan, hard exoskeleton, and jointed appendages, which are unique to arthropods.
C: With an estimated 10^18 individuals, over 1 million described species, and presence in nearly all habitats, arthropods are the most successful animal phyla by criteria of species diversity, distribution, and sheer numbers.
D: Arthropods are successful because they exclusively reproduce through external fertilization, allowing for rapid population growth.
Explanation
The section 'Arthropods' explicitly states: 'By the criteria of species diversity, distribution, and sheer numbers, arthropods must be regarded as the most successful of all animal phyla.' It also provides the supporting data: 'about a billion billion 10^18 arthropods living on Earth. More than 1 million arthropod species have been described...can be found in nearly all habitats of the biosphere.'