Which one of the following statements is correct?

Options

A. All the individuals of a species have exactly the same life span
B. Smaller organisms always have shorter life span and vice versa
C. Life span of an organism is the time period from its birth to its natural death
D. No organism may have a life span of several hundred years

Answer

To determine which statement is correct regarding the lifespan of organisms, we will analyze each of the four statements provided.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Analyze Statement 1**: "All the individuals of a species have exactly the same life span."
- This statement is incorrect. While species may have an average lifespan, individual lifespans can vary significantly due to various factors such as health, lifestyle, and environmental conditions. For example, two humans can have vastly different lifespans based on their lifestyle choices and health conditions.

2. **Analyze Statement 2**: "Smaller organisms always have shorter lifespan and vice-versa."
- This statement is also incorrect. There is no consistent correlation between the size of an organism and its lifespan. For instance, parrots, which are relatively small, can live up to 150 years, while humans, who are larger, typically have an average lifespan of 70-80 years. Thus, size does not determine lifespan.

3. **Analyze Statement 3**: "Lifespan of an organism is the time period from its birth to its natural death."
- This statement is correct. It accurately defines lifespan as the duration from the moment an organism is born until it dies naturally. This is the standard definition of lifespan in biological terms.

4. **Analyze Statement 4**: "No organism may have a lifespan of several hundred years."
- This statement is incorrect. Some organisms, such as certain species of trees or tortoises, can live for several hundred years. For example, some tortoises can live over 100 years, and certain trees can live for thousands of years.

### Conclusion:
After analyzing all four statements, the only correct statement is **Statement 3**: "Lifespan of an organism is the time period from its birth to its natural death."