Which of the following is a case of adaptive radiation?

Options

A. Wings of birds and insects
B. Human vermiform appendix
C. Darwin's Galapagos finches
D. Cactus and euphorbia plants

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Adaptive Radiation**:
- Adaptive radiation is the evolutionary process where organisms diversify rapidly into a wide variety of forms to adapt to different environments. This typically occurs when a species colonizes a new habitat with diverse ecological niches.

2. **Analyzing the Options**:
- **Wings of birds and insects**: This is an example of convergent evolution, where different species evolve similar traits independently, not adaptive radiation.
- **Human vermiform appendix**: This is a vestigial structure and does not represent adaptive radiation.
- **Darwin's Galapagos finches**: These finches are a classic example of adaptive radiation. They evolved from a common ancestor into various species with different beak shapes and sizes to exploit different food sources in the Galapagos Islands.
- **Cactus and Euphorbia plants**: While both have adapted to arid environments, they are examples of convergent evolution rather than adaptive radiation since they belong to different plant families.

3. **Conclusion**:
- The only option that exemplifies adaptive radiation is **Darwin's Galapagos finches**. They illustrate how a single ancestral species can evolve into multiple species, each adapted to specific ecological niches.

**Final Answer**: Darwin's Galapagos finches (Option C).

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