Terrestrial endemic species inhabiting oceanic islands that have never been connected to a continental landmass typically exhibit comparative biochemical markers, such as Cytochrome c amino acid sequences, that show greater evolutionary similarity to species on distant continents than to those on the nearest adjacent mainland.
Answer: Answer
Answer
The statement is False.
The statement is false because oceanic islands are populated by long-distance dispersal from the closest mainland continent. Consequently, comparative biochemical evidence—such as Cytochrome c sequence homology—reveals that island endemics share their most recent common ancestry and greatest biochemical similarity with species from the nearest adjacent mainland, not distant landmasses.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Biogeographical colonization of oceanic islands and biochemical homology with nearest mainland species