Question

which of the following statements can be inferred by this cladogram? a agile wallabies are more closely related to platypuses than pink fairy armadillos. b great cormorants are more closely related to platypuses than walleyes. c lampreys are more closely related to black caimans than walleyes. d marbled newts are more closely related to pink fairy armadillos than lampreys.

Explanation:

In a cladogram, closer relatedness means sharing a more recent common ancestor.

• A: Agile wallabies and pink fairy armadillos share the same immediate branch (sister taxa), so they are equally related to platypuses. Incorrect.
• B: Great cormorants and platypuses share a more recent common ancestor than great cormorants and walleyes (walleyes branch off earlier). Correct.
• C: Lampreys and walleyes share a more recent common ancestor than lampreys and black caimans (black caimans branch off later). Incorrect.
• D: The option text is incomplete, but even if assuming a comparison, marbled newts’ relation to pink fairy armadillos vs lampreys is not supported as stated.

Answer:

B. Great cormorants are more closely related to platypuses than walleyes.