Derived characters are traits that
A) characterize the last common ancestor that a particular collection of species share.
B) evolved after the last common ancestor that a particular collection of species share.
C) are less suited to the environment than ancestral characters.
D) are more complicated than ancestral characters.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Derived characters, also known as "apomorphies," are traits that have evolved after the last common ancestor that a specific group of species shares. These traits can be used to distinguish one group of organisms from another. For example, the presence of feathers is a derived trait in birds that distinguishes them from their reptilian ancestors.

Derived Characters Are Traits That