Julio is studying the evolutionary history of desert cottontail rabbits, sea otters, and grizzly bears. All three species share some body structures, but all three also have some differences in their body structures. Below is a table that includes some of the body structures Julio is studying. How could Julio explain why all three species share some body structures and have some differences? Why do only grizzly bears and sea otters have canine teeth?

Explanation:

One way that Julio can explain such differences is that their environments are very similar and therefore the traits that were best suited for their survival were passed on from generation to generation. The traits that each species developed differently would have been due to their diet. Each species has a different diet and certain traits allow them to more easily hunt/gather the food that they need to survive. For example, grizzly bears and sea otters both eat fish as their main diet and therefore have both developed canine teeth, while rabbit teeth are different due to them only eating vegetation.