Birds,snakes,lizards,turtles,and crocodiles are all thought to share a common ancestor and several homologous traits.Assuming that this is true,these groups of animals and their common ancestor would represent
A)a polyphyletic group.
B)a monophyletic group.
C)homoplastic convergence.
D)an outgroup.
E)a species cluster.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A monophyletic group includes a common ancestor and all of its descendants. Since birds, snakes, lizards, turtles, and crocodiles share a common ancestor and several homologous traits, they would be considered a monophyletic group. A polyphyletic group would include organisms with different ancestors, while homoplastic convergence would refer to similar traits evolving independently in different lineages. An outgroup is a taxon that is closely related to but not part of the group being studied. A species cluster is not a valid scientific term.

Birds,snakes,lizards,turtles,and Crocodiles Are All Thought to Share a Common Ancestor