Name three features often associated with the evolution of an endoparasitic lifestyle. Compare and contrast these features between endoparasites from three phyla and their closest non-endoparasitic relatives. Assuming the features are adaptive, which of them do these comparisons suggest are exaptations?
Name three features often associated with the evolution of an endoparasitic lifestyle. Compare and contrast these features between endoparasites from three phyla and their closest non-endoparasitic relatives. Assuming the features are adaptive, which of them do these comparisons suggest are exaptations?
-Explanation:
Reduced or absent locomotive structures:
-Endoparasites from the phylum Nematoda have a reduced number of locomotive structures compared to their free-living relatives.
-Endoparasites from the phylum Acanthocephala have reduced or absent locomotive structures compared to their free-living relatives.
-Endoparasites from the phylum Platyhelminthes have reduced or absent locomotive structures compared to their free-living relatives.
Reduced or absent digestive structures:
-Endoparasites from the phylum Nematoda have a reduced number of digestive structures compared to their free-living relatives.
-Endoparasites from the phylum Acanthocephala have a reduced number of digestive structures compared to their free-living relatives.
-Endoparasites from the phylum Platyhelminthes have reduced or absent digestive structures compared to their free-living relatives.
Increased reproductive structures:
-Endoparasites from the phylum Nematoda have increased reproductive structures compared to their free-living relatives.
-Endoparasites from the phylum Acanthocephala have increased reproductive structures compared to their free-living relatives.
-Endoparasites from the phylum Platyhelminthes have increased reproductive structures compared to their free-living relatives.
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