Expert: Walter Hintz - 1/24/2005

Question
Please help?
1. You know some snakes have vestigial legs. Why is this considered evidence for evolution?
2. How do mimicry and camouflage help species survive?
3. How do homologous structures provide evidence for evolution?

I hope you can help. Thank you!

Answer
Hi Kim:

1.Vestigial structures tell us that the ancestral forms did have these features and that change has occured. There is a concept that states that the ontageny recapitulates its philogeny.  (look this one up)
2. The whole idea is that an animal is more difficult for  a predator to see.
3.These structures show relationships between living organisms.  Evolution is about relationships.