Question

1. scientists commonly use cladograms when studying phylogeny. analyze the cladogram to answer the following questions.

clade tetrapoda
clade amniota
clade mammalia
clade carnivora
clade felidae
amphibians
reptiles
marsupials
dogs and relatives
cats
retractable claws
specialized shearing teeth
hair
amniotic egg (egg with membranes)
four limbs
a. which clades contain animals that have specialized shearing teeth?
b. to which clades do marsupials belong?

Explanation:

• For part a: Cladograms show evolutionary relationships. The trait "specialized shearing teeth" is associated with certain clades. By looking at the cladogram, we can see which clades have this trait.
• For part b: To determine the clades that marsupials belong to, we trace their position on the cladogram from the bottom - up (from more general to more specific clades).

Answer:

• a. Clade Carnivora, Clade Felidae.
• b. Clade Tetrapoda, Clade Amniota, Clade Mammalia.