Question

thylacosmilus is a marsupial, and smilodon is a mammal. thylacosmilus and smilodon both have saber teeth, but they do not share an ancestor that had saber teeth. what are saber teeth for these organisms? analogous structures homologous structures vestigial structures mutated structures

Explanation:

Analogous structures are those that have similar functions but different evolutionary origins. Since Thylacosmilus (a marsupial) and Smilodon (a mammal) do not share an ancestor with saber - teeth, their saber - teeth are not inherited from a common ancestor. Homologous structures are inherited from a common ancestor. Vestigial structures are remnants of organs that had a function in an early ancestor. Mutated structures refer to structures that have changed due to mutation, but the key here is the lack of a common ancestral origin for the saber - teeth.

Answer:

A. analogous structures