Which one of the following organisms can live both in air (outside water) and in water?
Xerocole
Mesocole
Secondary hydrocole
Mesophyte
Answer is Wrong!
Answer is Right!
This question was previously asked in
UPSC Geoscientist – 2023
Based on the options provided and the process of elimination, ‘Secondary hydrocole’ is the most plausible answer, although the term is not standardly defined in this context.
The question describes an organism that can live both in terrestrial (“in air outside water”) and aquatic (“in water”) environments, which is characteristic of an amphibious lifestyle. Of the given options, ‘Xerocole’ refers to dry-adapted animals, ‘Mesocole’ to moderate-habitat animals, and ‘Mesophyte’ to moderate-moisture plants. None of these clearly describe an amphibious organism. While the term ‘Secondary hydrocole’ is not universally used to mean amphibious, in some specific ecological classifications, it might relate to organisms that have returned to aquatic life from terrestrial ancestors and retain some ability to function or spend time on land, or require both habitats for their life cycle (like amphibians). Given the other options are clearly incorrect, C is the intended answer despite potential ambiguity in terminology.