The most likely explanation for the high rate of sympatric speciation that apparently existed among the cichlids of Lake Victoria in the past is:

A) sexual selection.

B) habitat differentiation.

C) polyploidy.

D) pollution.

E) introduction of a new predator.

The most likely explanation for the high rate of sympatric speciation that apparently existed among the cichlids of Lake Victoria in the past is sexual selection.

Explanation:

Divergent sexual and natural selection on the visual system has been confirmed earlier in sympatric, morphologically comparable sister species of Lake Victoria cichlids, but this seems not to reveal the exact morphological variations within them.

Cichlid fish reasonably describe the enormous inventory of standards of speciation and reproductive isolation without geographical or ecological separation.

Most of the recent observations have not confirmed the hypothesis, implying that sexual selection may be effective for the bursting cichlid speciation in the lake. Workroom practices have shown that reproductive isolation of three morphologically comparable species of rock-dwelling cichlid fish.