Given below are two statements, one is labeled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R) Assertion (A): Maximum number of the species of butterflies are found in tropical countries. Reason (R): Butterflies can not tolerate low temperatures. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
- ABoth (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
- BBoth (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
- C(A) is true but (R) is false
- D(A) is false but (R) is true
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: (a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
Explanation
Butterflies are ectothermic (cold-blooded) and their flight muscles work best near an internal temperature of about 28 °C.
They cannot move their wing muscles when too cold, so they cannot tolerate low temperatures (R is true).
This is exactly why the maximum species diversity of butterflies occurs in warm tropical countries (A is true and R explains A).