Characid fishes arose prior to the separation of the African and South American continents us the most likely explanation of this distribution pattern.
<h3>What is
Characid fishes?</h3>
- The family Characiformes, sometimes known as the characids or characins, includes freshwater subtropical and tropical fish.
- The term "characins" has been used historically, but scientists now prefer the term "characids" to represent the group's status as a largely monophyletic family rank group.
- The order Characiforms contains the Characidae family.
- The bodies of characiforms are virtually always scaled, they have well-developed teeth, a pelvic fin, and typically an adipose fin.
- There are many different types of environments that these fish call home.
- From southwest Texas and Mexico through Central and South America, they are native to the Americas.
- Although many of these fish are found in rivers, some, like the blind cave tetra, actually live in caves.
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Question: Characid fishes are found naturally only in South America and Africa. Fossils of these fish are not found on any other continents. What is the most likely explanation of this distribution pattern?
A) Characid fishes arose prior to the separation of the African and South American continents
B) Characid fishes arose in the South Atlantic Ocean and migrated to Africa and South America
C) These fishes arose in either Africa or South America and migrated across the South Atlantic Ocean to another continent
D) Convergent evolution is responsible for the distribution of characin fishes
