Question

Which one of the following became an endangered species as a result of the extinction of Raphes cucullate?
A. Chrysanthemum
B. Cinchona
C. Bacillus thuringiensis
D. Sideroxylon grandiflorum

Answer 1

Hint: A long-lived tree endemic to Mauritius and belongs to the family Sapotaceae is associated with the extinction of dodo. Its fruit is analogous to the peach and has a hard and thick endocarp.

Complete answer:
- Stanley temple is a university of Wisconsin ornithologist that hypothesized that the extinction of Raphes cucullate had affected the calvaria tree and now it is listed as an endangered species and is near to its extinction. The scientific name of the calvaria tree or tembleque is Sideroxylon grandiflorum and the common name of Raphes cucullate is dodo and it is a flightless bird that is endemic to the island of Mauritius.
- The seeds of the Sideroxylon grandiflorum have thick and hard endocarp which does not germinate unless it is passed through the digestive tract of the dodo. The Sideroxylon grandiflorum and dodo live in a mutualistic relationship that benefits both of them.
- The dodo feeds on the seeds of Sideroxylon grandiflorum and breaks down the hard endocarp and then, the seeds are released from its digestive system. These seeds germinate to form another tree. Sideroxylon grandiflorum is also known as the dodo tree. Therefore, the Sideroxylon grandiflorum became an endangered species when the dodo became extinct.

Hence, the correct option is (D), i.e., Sideroxylon grandiflorum.

Note: In 1970, Stanley Temple hypothesized that the extinction of the famous bird species dodo has stopped the germination of new seeds of the calvaria, and this is leading to the near extinction of the dodo tree.