Free Biodiversity and Variety of Life MCQs with Answers

• A. Option A
• B. Option B
• C. Option C
• D. Option D

Explanation: The figure shows a mussel. Its characteristic is bivalved shell.A mussel is an aquatic mollusk with a soft body protected by a hard…

• A. Order and Family
• B. Family and Genus
• C. Order and Species
• D. Genus and Species

Explanation: The correct answer is option D: genus and species. When classifying humans (Homo sapiens) and chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), they belong to…

• A. Ventral tubular nerve cord
• B. Pharynx with gill slits
• C. Pharynx without gill slits
• D. Absence of notochord

Explanation: An important characteristic that hemichordates and chordates share is the presence of pharyngeal gill slits.

• A. Dolphins, Seals, Trygon
• B. Whales, Dolphins, Seals
• C. Trygon, Whales, Seals
• D. Seals, Dolphins, Sharks

Explanation: Whales, dolphins, and seals are indeed mammals. They belong to a group of mammals known as marine mammals because they live in the water.

• A. Oscula
• B. Choanocytes
• C. Mesenchymal cells
• D. Ostia

Explanation: Spongocoel is the central body cavity of the sponges. It is lined by highly specialised flagellated cells called choanocytes.

• A. Viviparity
• B. Warm blooded nature
• C. Ossified endoskeleton
• D. Breathing using lungs

Explanation: All birds are oviparous while all mammals except Ornithorhyncus (duck billed platypus) and Echidna or Tachyglossus (spiny anteater) are…

• A. Possess a mouth with an upper and a lower jaw - Chordata
• B. 3-chambered heart with one incompletely divided ventricle - Reptilia
• C. Cartilaginous endoskeleton - Chondrichthyes
• D. Viviparous - Mammalia

Explanation: Chondrichthyes, a class of fish that includes sharks, rays, and chimaeras, have a cartilaginous endoskeleton.

• A. Parapodia
• B. Jointed appendages
• C. Chitinous exoskeleton
• D. Metameric segmentation

Explanation: Parapodia are flattened, fleshy, vertical flap like outgrowths of body wall found in annelids on lateral sides of trunk segments.

• A. Mollusca
• B. Protozoa
• C. Coelenterata
• D. Porifera

Explanation: Phylum Porifera (the sponges) has cellular level of body organisation, with inner cellular layer consisting of highly specialised…

• A. Neomyxine
• B. Petromyzon
• C. Eptatretus
• D. Myxine

Explanation: Petromyzon (Lamprey) belongs to the Class Cyclostomata of Phylum Chordata. It is a jawless fish which lays eggs in fresh water.

• A. Trichinella spiralis
• B. Ascaris lumbricoides
• C. Taenia
• D. Enterobius vermicularis

Explanation: Trichinella spiralis is a minute nematode parasite that shows viviparity i.e., produces live youngs (larvae) not eggs. The adults of T.

• A. Platypus
• B. Whale
• C. Flying fox (Bat)
• D. Elephant

Explanation: Duckbilled platypus is an egg laying mammal. It is found in the rivers in eastern Australia and Tasmania.

• A. Exoskeleton
• B. Eyes
• C. Segmentation
• D. Bilateral symmetry

Explanation: Exoskeleton made of cuticle has enabled insects to live on land and to diversify to almost all the possible habitats.

• A. Echinoderms
• B. Ctenophora
• C. Cephalochordata
• D. Cnidaria

Explanation: Cnidarians are the sac-like animals which are aquatic. They are mostly marine except a few like hydra which are fresh water.

• A. Cyanobacteria
• B. Sea fan (Gorgonia)
• C. Saccharomyces
• D. Blue green algae

Explanation: Gorgonia (sea fan) is an animal belonging to phylum Coelenterata. All animals lack a cell wall.

• A. Metamorphosis
• B. Regeneration
• C. Alternation of generation
• D. Bioluminescence

Explanation: Planaria possesses high degree of regeneration. Both epimorphosis (in which the missing parts are formed) and morphallaxis (in which the…

• A. Housefly, butterfly, Insecta tsetse fly, silverfish
• B. Spiny anteater, sea urchin, sea cucumber
• C. Flying fish, Cuttle fish, Pisces silver fish
• D. Centipede, millipede, Insecta spider, scorpion

Explanation: Houseflies, butterflies, tsetse flies, and silverfish all belong to the same phylum in the animal kingdom, which is Arthropoda.

• A. Puffer fish
• B. Flying fish
• C. Cuttle fish
• D. Silver fish

Explanation: Phylum Arthropoda is the largest phylum of Animalia which includes insects.

• A. Body covered with moist skin which is devoid of scales, the ear is represented by a tympanum, alimentary canal, urinary and reproductive tracts open into a common cloaca
• B. Fresh water animals with bony endoskeleton, airbladder to regulate buoyancy
• C. Marine animals with cartilaginous endoskeleton, body covered with placoid scales
• D. Body covered with dry and cornified skin, scales over the body are epidermal, they do not have external ears

Explanation: Reptiles represent the first class of vertebrates fully adapted for life in dry places on land.

• A. Cnidaria
• B. Porifera
• C. Protozoa
• D. Ctenophora

Explanation: In ctenophores, asexual reproduction is absent. They are monoecious and fertilization is generally external.