Which of the following is a key advantage of the amniotic egg that supported the transition of vertebrates from aquatic to terrestrial environments?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Reviewing the question: Which of the following is a key advantage of the amniotic egg that supported the transition of vertebrates from aquatic to terrestrial environments?

Option a: 'It enables gas exchange through the skin, reducing the need for lungs.' This is incorrect because amniotic eggs do not rely on skin gas exchange for embryonic respiration; in amniotes, gas exchange is primarily facilitated by internal membranes and, in many cases, by the developing lungs of the embryo post-hatching. Relying on skin would also be problematic in terrestrial environments due to water loss and variability in skin permeability between species.

Option b: 'It eliminates the need for parental care during development.' This is misleading. While some amniotes exhibit reduced or specific parental care, the amniotic egg itself does not inherently eliminate parental care. Many amniotes still provide substantial parental care after laying eggs, and parental care is not a guaranteed or universal feature of eggs in terrestrial vertebrates.

Option c: 'It provides a self-contained aquatic environment that protects the embryo from desiccation and mechanical shock.' This correctly captures a central advantage. The amniotic egg encloses the embryo in a series of membranes and a protective shell (in many species), creating a self-contained, water-retaining environment that prevents desiccation on land and cushions the embryo from physical disturbances, enabling terrestrial reproduction.

Option d: 'It allows fertilization to occur externally in water.' This is inaccurate as a defining advantage of the amniotic egg. External fertilization in water is a trait associated more with many aquatic life stages and does not describe the terrestrial adaptation conferred by the amniotic egg. Amniotes generally can fertilize internally, and the egg provides protection from the external environment rather than relying on external aquatic conditions for fertilization.

In summary, option c accurately identifies the key advantage: the amniotic egg creates a self-contained environment that shields the developing embryo from desiccation and mechanical damage, enabling successful reproduction on land. The other options describe features or claims that do not correctly reflect the primary terrestrial advantage conferred by the amniotic egg.

Which of the following is a key advantage of the amniotic egg that supported the transition of vertebrates from aquatic to terrestrial environments?单项选择题

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