Question

here are pictures of a diadectes fossil, a living mudskipper, and a living alpine newt. this table shows some traits of each animal. how does this evidence support the claim that diadectes is more closely related to alpine newts than to mudskippers? complete the paragraph. based on the pictures and table, diadectes and mudskippers have similarities in their anatomy than diadectes and alpine newts have. this suggests that diadectes and have less similar dna and evolved from a more common ancestor.

Explanation:

• First, count the number of shared traits between Diadectes and mudskippers (tail only).
• Then, count the number of shared traits between Diadectes and alpine newts (tail, front and back legs, five toes on its feet).
• Fewer anatomical similarities imply less similar DNA and a more distant common ancestor.

Answer:

Based on the pictures and table, Diadectes and mudskippers have fewer similarities in their anatomy than Diadectes and alpine newts have. This suggests that Diadectes and mudskippers have less similar DNA and evolved from a more distant common ancestor.