Question

Modifications in the organisation of the basic pentadactyl limb structure found in vertebrates provide good evidence for the principle of

Answer 1

• Almost all the vertebrates have the same bone structure of limbs despite their limbs looking very different on the outside. This structure is known as the pentadactyl (five fingered) limb. This suggests that many vertebrates descended from the same common ancestor.
• The pentadactyl (five fingered) limb consists of a single proximal bone (humerus), two distal bones (radius and ulna), a series of carpals (wrist bones), followed by five series of metacarpals (palm bones) and phalanges (digits).
• Modifications in the organisation of the basic pentadactyl limb structure found in vertebrates provide good evidence for the principle of adaptive radiation and divergent evolution.