Question

the table shows the characteristics of four organisms.which cladogram correctly organizes the information in the table?

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze the presence of mouth

All organisms (snake, frog, fish, dog) have a mouth. So, the first branching based on mouth is not relevant as all have it.

Step2: Analyze the presence of fins

Only fish has fins. So, fish should be the first - branching organism when considering fins.

Step3: Analyze the presence of legs

Snake has no legs. Among the remaining (frog and dog), frog and dog have legs.

Step4: Analyze the presence of lungs

Frog and dog have lungs. But when we consider the order, after separating fish (by fins), then snake (by no - legs among the non - fish), and then between frog and dog (both have legs and lungs, but we can further check other characteristics. Since the main characteristics for initial branching are fins, legs.

Looking at the cladograms:

• In option A: The first branching is wrong as it doesn't separate fish first based on fins.
• In option B: The first branching is based on mouth (irrelevant as all have mouth), so wrong.
• In option C: The first branching is based on fins (correct as fish has fins), then snake (no legs), then dog (has legs and lungs).
• In option D: The first branching is wrong as it doesn't separate fish first based on fins.

Answer:

C