Question

Hi i need help with this cladogram question! I have trouble since im new to cladograms, when you help are there any tips you can give to help organize information? Thanks for helping!

Synapomorphies Newt Lizard Opossum Rabbit Gorilla Vertebral Column X Tetrapod Nature of egg Soft shell Hard shell No shell No shell No shell Fetal development In egg In egg In pouch Inside mother inside mother Incus, Stapes, Malleus Epipubic Bone Use the above table to construct a cladogram. On this cladogram, is it possible to circle a clade that includes the opossum and rabbit but not the gorilla?

Answer 1

First of all, we have to look for the outgroup in this table. Here newt is the outgroup becauseost pf the character in primitive state.

Now put the trait in the phylogenetic tree as depicted in the figure.

Newit Lizard Opossum Rabitl Gorilla +Epipubic 1 bone finpouch tsoft Hard shell tinside Mother Shell - No shell 1 Incus, stapes, Maleus tvertebral column Tetrapod t In egg

No, it is not possible to circle a clade that includes the opossum and rabbit but not the gorilla. Because gorilla and rabit are sister species to each other.