If you were using cladistics to build a phylogenetic tree of cats, which of the following would be the best outgroup?
A) lion
B) domestic cat
C) wolf
D) leopard
E) tiger

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The best outgroup should be a species that is not part of the group being examined but is closely related to them. Wolves are closely related to cats and their inclusion as an outgroup would allow for the identification of ancestral and derived characteristics in the lineage leading to cats. The other options, such as lion, domestic cat, leopard, and tiger, are all part of the group being examined and would not be suitable as outgroups.

If You Were Using Cladistics to Build a Phylogenetic Tree