Refer to the figure. Which statement about the phylogenetic tree (shown) is true?
A) The tree is polyphyletic.
B) The tree is based on homoplastic traits.
C) The clade containing the mouse is sister to the clade containing the chimpanzee.
D) The lizard is more closely related to the salamander than to the crocodile.
E) The lamprey is the outgroup because it is not a vertebrate.

Question

Refer to the figure.  Which statement about the phylogenetic tree (shown) is true?
A) The tree is polyphyletic. 
B) The tree is based on homoplastic traits. 
C) The clade containing the mouse is sister to the clade containing the chimpanzee. 
D) The lizard is more closely related to the salamander than to the crocodile. 
E) The lamprey is the outgroup because it is not a vertebrate.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The phylogenetic tree shows a sister relationship between the clade containing the mouse and the clade containing the chimpanzee.

Answer: D 
 The phylogenetic tree shows that the lizard and salamander are grouped together in a clade, and the crocodile is in a separate clade. Therefore, the lizard is more closely related to the salamander than to the crocodile.

Note: The other statements are false. The tree is not polyphyletic (as all organisms in the tree share a common ancestor), it is not based on homoplastic traits (as the traits used to construct the tree are based on homologous structures), the lamprey is not the outgroup (as it is still a vertebrate), and their relationship does not necessarily reflect the evolutionary timeline.

Refer to the Figure