SUPCFAFRM
I read somewhere that able is preferred over ability. Hence I selected option C.
Cardinal Rule #1 of SC: do not invent rules.

There's no rule here. All we have to go on is meaning. Both "To be able" and "ability" are functioning as the subject of a clause here.
So, as Dmitry Farber asks in ean arlier post, which of these makes sense more sense: "The ability... has created a new class of animals" or "To be able... has created a new class of animals"? The second construction is illogical. You could write "to be able to swim is important," but it's hard to see how "to be able" could
create anything.
So no grammar involved here. "The ability" is preferred in this case because it's more logical. Simple as that.
I hope that clears things up!