Cladograms (short)

Which answer is most true?

• Crocodiles are more closely related to hawks than to lizards.

• Mammals are more closely related to birds than to amphibians.

• Lizards and crocodiles (both of which have legs) are more closely related to each other than either is to snakes (which lack legs).

A newly identified organism has four limbs and amniotic eggs with shells.  Which organism do they most likely share a common ancestor with?

• ray-finned fish
• birds
• rodents
• amphibians

What is the closest relative of humans shown in this diagram?

• horse

• turtle

• monkey

• dog

Answer explanation

The the lines for human and monkey meet at a "V", which indicates their common ancestor.

Which trait do only humans have, according to the cladogram?

• jaws

• mammary glands & hair

• terrestrial during all life stages

• bipedal & opposable thumbs

What characteristic do all the organisms on this cladogram share?

• Being bi-pedal & having language

• Complex brains

• Fully binocular vision

• Partial binocular vision & opposable thumbs

Which group of animals on this tree are most closely related to birds?

• Saurischian dinosaurs

• Ornithischian dinosaurs

• Crocodiles

• None of these are related to birds

According to this cladogram, primates are most closely related to -

• Amphibians
• Rodents and rabbits
• Crocodiles
• Birds

According to this cladogram, birds are LEAST related to -

• Amphibians
• Sharks
• Ray Finned Fish
• Crocodiles

Individuals that are well adapted to their environment will survive and produce:

• Fewer mutations
• Stronger genes
• More offspring
• Better traits

A newly identified organism has four limbs and amniotic eggs with shells.  Which organism do they most likely share a common ancestor with?

• ray-finned fish
• birds
• rodents
• amphibians