Question

What did Wallace conclude from observing that the bones in manatee flippers look similar to the bones in a human arm and hand? What did Wallace conclude from observing that the bones in manatee flippers look similar to the bones in a human arm and hand? Manatee finger bones must have an important function, necessary for the animal’s survival. Manatees were specially created in their current form, including the arm and finger bones inside their flippers. Manatees use their flippers like humans use their hands. Manatees’ arm and finger bones are evidence that manatees share a common ancestor with land mammals.

Answer 1

Manatees' arm and finger bones are evidence that manatees share a common ancestor with land mammals.

Step-by-step explanation:

Manatees were aquatic mammals while humans are mainly land mammals. However, the presence of body parts or organs having similar structures in manatees and humans suggests that these two species of mammals shared a common ancestor. The arms and finger bones were also present in their common ancestors.

Humans and manatees diverged into different directions to become adapted to terrestrial and aquatic lifestyle respectively. Therefore, the forelimbs developed into flippers in manatees while the same do the function of holding objects in humans. These are called homologous structures.