Question

Arrange the following animals in ascending order on the basis of their maximum life span and choose the correct option.

Name of animal	Codes
Butterfly	A
Crocodile	B
Swan	C
Toad	D
Parrot	E

(a) A < D < C < E < B
(b) A < B < C < D < E
(c) A < D < B < C < E
(d) A < C < D < E < B

Answer 1

Hint: A study on the population of an organism requires different sets of statistical measures. They are crucial to trace population growth as well as its health. The maximum life span is one of those measures that depend on the aging of an organism and thus can best trace its longevity.

Complete answer:
The maximum life span is a statistical measure to deduce the highest number of years a person belonging to a particular species has survived. It gives an idea about the life span a particular organism can achieve in a given set of favorable environmental conditions. In the given data, a butterfly can survive up to one month while the toads can live up to five or six years. They are followed by the swans whose maximum life span is 12 years. A parrot has been reported to live for a maximum of 60 years while the crocodiles have the maximum life span i.e 70 years.

Additional Information:
- The lifetime of any individual can be divided into three phases namely the Juvenile phase, the Reproductive phase, and the Senescent phase. They differ based on their metabolic needs and cell activities.
- The juvenile phase is defined as the phase of growth that begins with its birth and progresses till the reproductive organs are fully developed or sexual maturity is attained. It is known as the vegetative phase in plants.
- The reproductive phase is defined as the phase of growth when an organism is sexually matured enough to reproduce or give rise to young ones.
- The senescent phase is defined as the phase of growth when an organism loses its reproductive capacity and progressive degeneration of the cellular activities begins.
So, the correct answer is ‘(a) A < D < C < E < B.’

Note: The average lifespan of an individual refers to the estimate of the average number of years an organism of a particular species survives in a particular set of environments. It is calculated on the basis of various parameters like the years of birth and death along with demographic factors that include the sex of the organism along with their age etc.