Taxonomy

Consider the following statements :
DNA Barcoding can be a tool to :

• assess the age of a plant or animal
• distinguish among species that look alike.
• identify undesirable animal or plant materials in processed foods.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 only” option2=”3 only” option3=”1 and 2″ option4=”2 and 3″ correct=”option4″]

The correct answer is D) 2 and 3.

Statement 1 is incorrect. DNA barcoding is a method for identifying species using a short, standardized sequence of DNA. It provides a “barcode” that is unique to a species, but it does not provide information about the age of an individual plant or animal.
Statement 2 is correct. DNA barcoding is highly effective at distinguishing among species, even those that are morphologically similar or difficult to identify using traditional methods. The barcode sequence provides a clear genetic signature for differentiation.
Statement 3 is correct. DNA barcoding can be used to identify the species composition of biological materials in processed foods, allowing detection of adulteration, mislabeling, or the presence of undesirable or allergenic plant or animal materials.

The standard barcode region used for animals is a segment of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI). For plants, different regions are used, such as rbcL and matK in chloroplast DNA. DNA barcoding has applications in biodiversity studies, food safety, forensic science, and wildlife trafficking detection.

Which one of the following is a filter feeder?

[amp_mcq option1=”Catfish” option2=”Octopus” option3=”Oyster” option4=”Pelican” correct=”option3″]

Option C is the correct answer. Oysters are filter feeders, meaning they obtain nutrition by filtering suspended food particles from water.

A filter feeder is an animal that feeds by straining suspended food particles from water. Examples include bivalve molluscs like clams and oysters, as well as some fish, whales, and birds.

Catfish are generally bottom feeders or predators. Octopuses are predatory cephalopods. Pelicans are birds that typically catch fish directly with their beaks, rather than filtering.

Consider the following animals :

• 1. Hedgehog
• 2. Marmot
• 3. Pangolin

To reduce the chance of being captured by predators, which of the above organisms rolls up/roll up and protects/protect its/their vulnerable parts?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 2″ option2=”2 only” option3=”3 only” option4=”1 and 3″ correct=”option4″]

Animals use various defense mechanisms against predators. Rolling up into a ball is a common defense strategy among certain species to protect their soft, vulnerable underbellies or heads.
1. Hedgehog: Hedgehogs are well-known for their ability to roll into a tight, spiny ball when threatened. Their strong back muscles allow them to pull their skin, covered in spines, over their head and legs, presenting a formidable defense.
2. Marmot: Marmots are large ground squirrels. Their primary defense mechanisms include loud alarm calls to alert others and retreating quickly into their burrows. They do not roll up into a ball for defense.
3. Pangolin: Pangolins are mammals covered in large, protective keratin scales. When threatened, they roll up into a tight ball, tucking their head under their tail and using their scales as armor against predators.
Therefore, both Hedgehogs and Pangolins employ the strategy of rolling up into a ball to protect themselves.

Hedgehogs use their spines and Pangolins use their scales as protection when rolling into a ball.

Other animals that roll up for defense include armadillos (some species), pill bugs (rolly pollies), and certain millipedes.

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?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 3 only” option2=”2, 3 and 4 only” option3=”2 and 4 only” option4=”1, 2, 3 and 4″ correct=”option4″]

Option D is correct. All four statements are correct.

– Statement 1: Some species of turtles are herbivores (e.g., Green Sea Turtle as adults, many tortoise species).
– Statement 2: Some species of fish are herbivores (e.g., Parrotfish, Surgeonfish, grass carp).
– Statement 3: Some species of marine mammals are herbivores (e.g., Dugongs and manatees are Sirenians and feed on seagrass).
– Statement 4: Some species of snakes are viviparous (give live birth, e.g., many pit vipers like rattlesnakes, boas, anacondas, some sea snakes).

– The animal kingdom exhibits a wide diversity of diets and reproductive strategies. Not all individuals or species within a group share the same characteristics.
– Herbivory is relatively common across various animal groups.
– Viviparity (live birth) occurs in some species within groups where egg-laying (oviparity) is more common, like reptiles (snakes, some lizards).

Recently, our scientists have discovered a new and distinct species of banana plant which attains a height of about 11 metres and has orange-coloured fruit with pulp. In which part of India has it been discovered?

[amp_mcq option1=”Andaman Islands” option2=”Anaimalai Forests” option3=”Maikala Hills” option4=”Tropical rain forests of northeast” correct=”option1″]

The new and distinct species of banana plant, *Musa markkuaensis*, known for its height of about 11 metres and orange-coloured fruit with pulp, was discovered by scientists in the Andaman Islands.

The discovery of *Musa markkuaensis*, a giant banana species, occurred in the Andaman Islands.

This discovery was significant due to the plant’s impressive size and unique fruit characteristics (orange pulp, numerous seeds). The scientific team included researchers from the Botanical Survey of India. The finding highlights the rich biodiversity of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

What is/are unique about ‘Kharai camel’, a breed found in India?

• 1. It is capable of swimming up to three kilometres in seawater.
• 2. It survives by grazing on mangroves.
• 3. It lives in the wild and cannot be domesticated.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 2 only” option2=”3 only” option3=”1 and 3 only” option4=”1, 2 and 3″ correct=”option1″]

Statements 1 and 2 are unique characteristics of the Kharai camel breed found in the Kutch region of Gujarat, India. They are known for their ability to swim across seawater creeks and for feeding on mangrove vegetation. Statement 3 is incorrect because Kharai camels are domesticated animals, primarily reared by the Maldhari pastoral community, who use them for transport and milk.

The Kharai camel is a distinct camel breed adapted to the harsh coastal and arid environment of Kutch, known for its swimming ability and diet based on mangroves.

The Kharai camel is one of the officially recognized Indian camel breeds. Their unique ability to swim allows them to reach islands and coastal areas where mangroves grow, providing them with food. This adaptation makes them distinct from other camel breeds. They are a vital part of the ecosystem and the livelihoods of the local communities.

Among the following organisms, which one does not belong to the class of other three?

[amp_mcq option1=”Crab” option2=”Mite” option3=”Scorpion” option4=”Spider” correct=”option1″]

The correct answer is A) Crab. We need to classify the given organisms to find the one that belongs to a different class from the others.

– All four organisms (Crab, Mite, Scorpion, Spider) belong to the phylum Arthropoda.
– Within Arthropoda, they are further classified into classes.
– Crab belongs to the class Malacostraca, which is part of the subphylum Crustacea.
– Mite, Scorpion, and Spider all belong to the class Arachnida.

Arachnids are characterized by having eight legs (four pairs), no antennae, and body divided into two segments (cephalothorax and abdomen). Crustaceans, like crabs, typically have ten legs (five pairs, including claws), two pairs of antennae, and usually a body divided into cephalothorax and abdomen, often covered by a carapace.

Consider the following animals:

• 1. Sea cow
• 2. Sea horse
• 3. Sea lion

Which of the above is/are mammal/mammals?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 only” option2=”1 and 3 only” option3=”2 and 3 only” option4=”1, 2 and 3″ correct=”option2″]

The correct option is B, meaning that Sea cow and Sea lion are mammals, while Sea horse is not.

– Sea cows (which include manatees and dugongs) are aquatic mammals belonging to the order Sirenia.
– Sea horses are small marine fish belonging to the genus Hippocampus. They are a type of fish, not a mammal.
– Sea lions are marine mammals characterized by external ear flaps, long foreflippers, the ability to walk on all four flippers on land, and short, thick hair. They belong to the family Otariidae.

Mammals are characterized by features such as having mammary glands (producing milk for young), being warm-blooded, having hair or fur, and typically giving birth to live young. Fish are aquatic vertebrates characterized by gills, fins, and usually scales, and they are cold-blooded.