ShmoopTube

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Here’s your Shmoop du jour, brought to you by habitats.

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Which technically does include a teenager's bedroom, though we're not sure how anything [Teenage boy in his bedroom]

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manages to live in there....

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Check out the following statement…

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The comparison of species that live in different habitats across the globe is called this.

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And here are the potential answers.

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All right, let's start by eliminating answer “A”.

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Homology is the existence of shared ancestry between a pair of structures in different [A monkey and a man sitting together]

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species.

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Such a trait would be most evident if you were to purchase a necktie for your fave giraffe. [Person giving a gift to a giraffe]

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Since giraffes have the same number of neck bones as humans do, you could theoretically

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get away with buying your giraffe-pal a tie from your local Macy's. [A giraffe wearing a tie]

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While that'd be a nice gesture, it wouldn't prove anything about why the giraffe lives

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where he lives, so answer “A” is incorrect.

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How about answer “C”?

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Vestigial organs inhabit the body, but have no functional value to the person. [Human body with vestigial organs]

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The appendix comes to mind.

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Though to be fair, there's always a chance the appendix will turn into a ticking time [Surgeons removing a persons appendix]

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bomb, so at least it has the element of surprise working in its favor.

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However, the appendix and other vestigial organs aren't the answer we're looking for.

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Moving on.

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How about “D”?

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Comparative embryology DOES compare species, but only to gather evidence of evolution.

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It's a worthwhile field.

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It helped us find out the bird evolved from the dinosaur, and that's just...ridiculous. [Diagram of a dinosaur and bird structures]

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Hah.

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Look at that little dinky bird. [Little bird hopping in the park]

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Anyway.

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Answer “D” isn't our winner.

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That leaves “B”.

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And guess what?

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The comparison of species that live in different habitats across the globe just happens to

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be called biogeography.

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Inquiring scientists want to know why marsupials are only found in Australia. [A scientist in the lab and a marsupial bounces past]

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How did all the flora and fauna wind up where it wound up?

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And why isn't there a duo named Flora and Fauna? [Marsupial and flowers on stage]

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We'd buy that album.

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B is our correct answer.

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If you'll excuse us, we have to work on our next screenplay: Jurassic Park 3: Fuzzy Duck [Advert for Jurassic Park 9]

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Snuggles.

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Aw.

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How cute. [A group of girls cuddle a duck]

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