Question

Mammals in Australia are called marsupials, and diverged from the placental mammals very early in mammalian evolution. Australian sugar gliders and North American flying squirrels (see picture) have membranes of skin between their forelimbs and hindlimbs that allow them to glide between tree branches. Are their membranes homologous or analogous?

Answer 1

Answer:

The correct answer is homologous.

Explanation:

A structure that is derived from a common ancestor is called homologous structure. So homologous structure is the characteristic of divergent evolution that means divergent evolution give rise to homologous structures.

So as the marsupials are mammals that were diverged from placental mammals very early in mammalian evolution, the membranes of skin that allow Australian sugar gliders and North American flying squirrels to glide are homologous because divergent evolution gives rise to homologous structures.

The function of these homologous structures can be the same or can be different. Therefore the correct answer is their membrane are homologous.