Biology : Taxonomy Part-II

Total Questions: 50

1. Match List-I (Indian wildlife species) with List-II (Scientific names) and select the correct answer using the codes given below: [I.A.S. (Pre) 2002]

List-I (Indian Wildlife Species)	List-II (Scientific Names)
A. Asiatic wild ass	1. Boselaphus tragocamelus
B. Barasingha	2. Cervus duvauceli
C. Chinkara	3. Equus hemionus
D. Nilgai	4. Gazella bennetti

Code:

Code	A	B	C	D
(a)	2	3	1	4
(b)	3	2	4	1
(c)	2	3	4	1
(d)	3	2	1	4

Correct Answer: (b)

Solution:The correctly matched order is:

List-I (Indian Wildlife Species)	List-II (Scientific Names)
A. Asiatic wild ass	1. Equus hemionus
B. Barasingha	2. Cervus duvauceli
C. Chinkara	3. Gazella bennetti
D. Nilgai	4. Boselaphus tragocamelus

2. Consider the following statements [I.A.S. (Pre) 2023]

Statement-I: Marsupials are not naturally found in India.
Statement-II: Marsupials can thrive only in montane grasslands with no predators.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
(c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
(d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

Correct Answer: (c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect

Solution:Marsupials are a diverse group of mammals belonging to the infraclass Marsupialia. One of the defining features of marsupials is their unique reproductive strategy, where the young are born in a relatively undeveloped state and then nurtured within a pouch. Living marsupials encompass a wide range of species, including kangaroos, koalas, opossums, Tasmanian devils, wombats, wallabies, and bandicoots, among others. Each species exhibits distinct adaptations and behaviors suited to its particular ecological niche. Marsupials are primarily found in Australasia, Wallacea, and the Americas. They are not naturally found in India. However, marsupials can thrive in various habitats, not only in montane grasslands with no predators. For example, some marsupials live in deserts, woodlands, and savannas. They can be found in dry scrublands, temperate deciduous forests, and tropical rainforests. Hence, Statement-I is correct while Statement-II is incorrect.

3. Match List-I with List-II and choose the right answer from the given code: [I.A.S. (Pre) 1993]

List-I (Symptoms)	List-II (Creature)
A. Wingless insect	1. Kiwi
B. Flightless birds	2. Silverfish
C. Limbless Reptiles	3. Kurma (Turtle)
D. Lungless creature	4. Snakes
	5. Fish

Code:

Code	A	B	C	D
(a)	1	3	2	5
(b)	2	1	4	5
(c)	2	1	3	4
(d)	3	1	4	2

Correct Answer: (b)

Solution:The correctly matched lists are as follows:

List-I (Symptoms)	List-II (Creature)
A. Wingless insect	1. Silverfish
B. Flightless birds	2. Kiwi
C. Limbless Reptiles	3. Snake
D. Lungless creature	4. Fish

4. Kiwi is — [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) (Re. Exam) 2013]

(a) A species of vulture found in Amazon forest only
(b) Flightless bird found only in New Zealand
(c) A desert snake
(d) Fastest flying Chiropteran mammal of Australia

Correct Answer: (b) Flightless bird found only in New Zealand

Solution:Kiwi are flightless birds native to New Zealand in the genus Apteryx and Family Apterygial. They are part of the ratite group, which includes other flightless birds like ostriches, emus, and cassowaries. Kiwis have a long, sensitive bill, hair-like feathers, and nostrils at the tip of the bill. The kiwi is a national symbol of New Zealand, and New Zealanders are often referred to as Kiwis.

5. Which of the following is of organic origin? [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]

(a) Coral
(b) Emerald
(c) Ruby
(d) Topaz

Correct Answer: (a) Coral

Solution:Corals are marine invertebrates in the class Anthozoa of phylum Cnidaria. They typically live in compact colonies of many identical individual polyps. The group includes the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans and secrete calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton.

6. Octopus is — [I.A.S. (Pre) 2003, U.P.P.C.S. (Spl.) (Mains) 2004]

(a) An arthropod
(b) An echinoderm
(c) A hemichordate
(d) A mollusc

Correct Answer: (d) A mollusc

Solution:An octopus is a cephalopod mollusc of the order octopoda, also known as devilfish. It has two eyes and four pairs of arms and like other cephalopods, it is bilaterally symmetric. Octopuses are part of the Cephalopoda class, which includes squids, cuttlefish, and nautiloids. This order specifically contains octopuses and their relatives.

While less common, "devilfish" is another name for octopuses. Like other cephalopods, octopuses have a body plan where the left and right sides are mirror images of each other. Octopuses possess two eyes, which are large and complex, providing them with excellent vision. They have eight limbs, which are actually arms and not tentacles, equipped with suckers for gripping and manipulating objects.

7. The largest invertebrate is — [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2004]

(a) Octopus
(b) Squid
(c) Coral
(d) Jellyfish

Correct Answer: (b) Squid

Solution:Invertebrates are the animals that do not have a backbone. The colossal squid holds the title of the largest invertebrate, surpassing even the giant squid in terms of overall size, particularly in terms of mass, according to Wikipedia and other sources. While the exact maximum size is still debated, estimates place the total length (including tentacles) between 10-14 meters (33-46 feet). The giant squid, while also a large invertebrate, has a slightly smaller mantle length and overall size than the colossal squid. The colossal squid also possesses the largest eyes in the animal kingdom, with some estimates suggesting a diameter of up to 40 cm (16 inches). It is found in the deep waters surrounding Antarctica.

8. Among the following organisms, which one does not belong to the class of other three? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2014]

(a) Crab
(b) Mite
(c) Scorpion
(d) Spider

Correct Answer: (a) Crab

Solution:Class of crab - Malacostraca
Class of mite - Arachnida
Class of scorpion - Arachnida
Class of spider - Arachnida

9. White leg-horn is a variety of: [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Mains) 2004]

(a) Parrot
(b) Peacock
(c) Fowl
(d) Owl

Correct Answer: (c) Fowl

Solution:White leg-horn is a variety of fowl. It is a type of poultry, a term that generally refers to domesticated birds kept for their meat or eggs, and is considered a Mediterranean breed. The term "breed" in the context of poultry refers to a specific group of birds with shared characteristics, including physical traits, egg production, and temperament. White Leghorns are a distinct breed within the broader category of chickens. "Fowl" is a broader term encompassing all domestic birds, including chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys. White Leghorns, as chickens, are clearly within this category. White Leghorns are renowned for their exceptional egg-laying abilities, making them a popular choice for commercial egg production.

10. Ticks and mites are actually: [I.A.S. (Pre) 2002]

(a) Arachnids
(b) Crustaceans
(c) Insects
(d) Myriapods

Correct Answer: (a) Arachnids

Solution:Ticks and mites belong to one of the most diverse groups of class, Arachnids. They have 4 pairs of legs, although some juveniles have 3 pairs gaining the fourth pair with the first molt. There is no external segmentation of the abdomen, individuals appear as a single body mass.

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