The fossil record shows that the forelimbs of cats, dolphins, and bats have the same skeletal elements. These skeletal elements have evolved into different shapes and sizes based on their function. For example, the flipper of a dolphin is adapted for swimming and the wing of a bat is adapted for flying.
What do the similarities between the skeletal structures of these three species most likely indicate about their evolutionary history?
A.
These three species are all descended from the same parent organism.
B.
These three species are distantly related and share a common ancestor.
C.
These three species are not related and do not share a common ancestor.
D.
These three species all evolved from a common flying ancestor.