To a cladist,the statement that birds (a monophyletic group)evolved from reptiles (a paraphyletic group)constitutes which of the following?
A)a meaningful statement of the evolutionary advancement of the birds over the reptiles
B)a meaningful statement that birds represent a different,but not necessarily more advanced adaptive zone than reptiles
C)a trivial statement that birds evolved from something that they are not
D)an incorrect statement because ancestral groups must be extinct but reptiles are still alive

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Cladistics focuses on the relationships between different organisms based on the idea that members of a group share a common evolutionary history. The statement that birds evolved from reptiles is considered trivial in this context because it simply states that birds evolved from a group they are not currently classified under, without providing detailed insights into the evolutionary relationships or specific ancestries.

To a Cladist,the Statement That Birds (A Monophyletic Group)evolved from Reptiles