Question:

Which of the following animals developed the ability of using ribs and intercostal muscles in ventilation for the first time in vertebrate evolution?

Show Hint

Reptiles introduced thoracic breathing using ribs and intercostal muscles.
Updated On: Jun 19, 2026
  • Mammals
  • Aves
  • Reptiles
  • Fishes
Show Solution
collegedunia
Verified By Collegedunia

The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understand respiratory evolution.
Vertebrate respiration evolved from simple diffusion and gill-based systems to advanced lung ventilation.

Step 2: Identify rib-based ventilation.

Ribs and intercostal muscles enable thoracic breathing using negative pressure.

Step 3: Evolutionary appearance.

This rib-based ventilation first appears in reptiles.

Step 4: Compare with other groups.

Fishes use gills, amphibians use buccal pumping, birds use air sacs, mammals use advanced diaphragm-based breathing.

Step 5: Functional advantage.

Reptiles evolved efficient lung ventilation compared to amphibians.

Step 6: Conclusion.

Thus, reptiles first developed rib and intercostal muscle-based ventilation.
Was this answer helpful?
0
0