Consider the following statements on patterns in global biogeography.

A. The endemicity of terrestrial mammal families in biogeographic realms is greater than plant families.
B. There are fewer mammalian fruit eaters, omnivores, and carnivore species in Australia compared to other biogeographic realms.
C. Major diversification of modern mammals started only 65-55 million years ago.
D. On an average, plant species have dispersed much better than mammalian species across biogeographic realms.

Which one of the options given below contains the correct set of True/False statements, based on well-established patterns in global biogeography?

• Mammals have more restricted ranges and often evolve in isolation due to barriers like oceans and mountains.

• Plants, although diverse, often have broader distribution due to mechanisms like wind, animal dispersal, etc.

B. There are fewer mammalian fruit eaters, omnivores, and carnivore species in Australia compared to other biogeographic realms.

True

• Australia has fewer placental mammals; its fauna is dominated by marsupials.

• Many niches (e.g., large carnivores, omnivores) are underrepresented compared to continents like Africa or Asia.

C. Major diversification of modern mammals started only 65–55 million years ago.

True

• This corresponds to the Paleogene period, following the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) extinction event (~66 MYA), which led to rapid mammalian radiation.

D. On an average, plant species have dispersed much better than mammalian species across biogeographic realms.

True

• Plant seeds disperse via wind, water, birds, etc., over long distances.

• Mammals have limited dispersal, often restricted by geographic barriers.

Correct Option: 2

A: True, B: True, C: True, D: True