A Proximate Explanation Explains

Question

A proximate explanation explains:
A) What has happened to a species through evolutionary time
B) What is predicted to happen to a species
C) What is happening here and now to a species
D) None of the above

Accepted Answer

A proximate explanation explains the immediate, underlying causes of a behavior or physiological response in a species, which is what is happening here and now to a species. A is incorrect because it refers to evolutionary history, while B refers to future predictions, so neither of these options is a proximate explanation.