Correct option is B
Explanation:
The given scenario describes a rapid evolution of closely related species, each adapting to different ecological niches in a specific region (peninsular India).
This pattern is best explained by Adaptive Radiation, which occurs when:
- A common ancestor gives rise to multiple species.
- These species rapidly diversify to occupy different ecological niches.
- Each species evolves distinct adaptations to survive in its specific environment.
Classic Example of Adaptive Radiation:
- Darwin’s Finches in the Galápagos Islands: A single ancestral finch species evolved into multiple species, each with specialized beak shapes suited to different food sources.
- Cichlid Fishes in African Lakes: They diversified to exploit different feeding strategies (carnivores, herbivores, detritivores, etc.).
- Lizards in India (as per the question): A diverse set of species evolving in a short period, occupying different niches, strongly suggests adaptive radiation.
Information Booster:
- Adaptive Radiation → Rapid speciation where organisms diversify into multiple species to exploit different ecological niches.
- Non-ecological Speciation → Occurs without major ecological differentiation, usually due to genetic drift or other factors (Incorrect here).
- Allopatric Speciation → Occurs due to geographic isolation, which is not mentioned in the question (Incorrect here).
- Parapatric Speciation → Occurs when populations are adjacent to each other but experience limited gene flow, leading to differentiation (Not strongly supported in this case).
