This fossil bird and this living salamander both have tails. However, they have different tail structures. The bird has a very short tail made of just one bone that helps it have a light skeleton for flying. The salamander has a long tail with many bones that helps it balance while it runs. What most likely explains why both the bird and salamander have tails and why the tails are different?

a The salamander and bird both inherited tails from a shared ancestor population, but this population separated into different environments. In each environment, different types of tails evolved, which helped the populations survive.

b It is impossible to explain the body structures of different species. The way that structures change over time is very complex, and no one has ever observed these changes occurring.

c The bird and salamander are different species, so they do not share an ancestor population. These species had separate ancestor populations, and each evolved a tail that helps it survive in its environment.

d All species have their own specific body structures, so it is a coincidence that the bird and salamander happen to have different types of tails.

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