Question

Identify the possible link 'M' in the following food chain:
Plant → Insect → M → Snake → Eagle

• A. Rabbit
• B. Wolf
• C. Frog
• D. Ichthyophis

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Plant (producer) → Insect (herbivore) → [M] (primary carnivore) → Snake (secondary carnivore) → Eagle (top carnivore)

The missing link M must be:

• An organism that eats insects (making it insectivorous)
• And is itself preyed upon by snakes

(A) Rabbit - incorrect (herbivore, doesn't eat insects)
(B) Wolf - incorrect (higher carnivore, wouldn't be eaten by snakes)
(C) Frog - correct (insectivorous and preyed upon by snakes)
(D) Ichthyophis - incorrect (a legless amphibian that snakes wouldn't typically eat)

Thus, the complete chain is:
Plant → Insect → Frog → Snake → Eagle

Answer 2

Plant → Insect → M → Snake → Eagle

Answer: (C) Frog

In this food chain, we are looking for an organism that:

• Feeds on insects.
• Serves as prey for the snake.
• Frog fits this description perfectly:
• Frogs typically feed on insects, making them a link in the food chain after insects.
• Frogs are also commonly eaten by snakes, which places them in the correct position as 'M'.

The other options, such as Rabbit (which typically feeds on plants and is not usually preyed upon by snakes as often as frogs), Wolf (which is a carnivore and not part of this food chain), and Ichthyophis (a type of amphibian not as common in this context) are not suitable.