1. A new Xenite species has been discovered. There is no fossil evidence to suggest the relative evolutionary age of this new species.
Remake your character matrix and construct a new cladogram.
2. Explain how you created your new cladogram, and:
a. identify which derived characters were homologies or analogies
b. explain the evolutionary history of the organisms shown by your tree
c. explain how you used new evidence to revise your cladogram.
Create a history tree also
Character Matrix:
Species A: Hairless, webbed feet, carnivorous
Species B: Furry, clawed feet, herbivorous
Species C: Hairless, clawed feet, omnivorous
Species D (new species): Furry, webbed feet, herbivorous
Cladogram:
___ Species B
|
|___ Species D
|
|___ Species A
|
|___ Species C
Explanation:
a. In creating the new cladogram, the derived characters of hairlessness, furry coat, webbed feet, clawed feet, carnivorous diet, herbivorous diet, and omnivorous diet were considered. Hairlessness and fur coat are homologies as they both relate to the presence or absence of hair, while webbed feet and clawed feet are analogies as they both represent adaptations for different environments.
b. The evolutionary history shown by the tree suggests that Species C and Species D share a more recent common ancestor compared to the other species. It also suggests that webbed feet and clawed feet may have evolved independently in different lineages for different purposes (e.g., swimming in water or climbing trees).
c. The new evidence of the discovery of the new Xenite species (Species D) prompted the revision of the cladogram to accommodate this new information. By analyzing the characteristics of the new species and comparing them to the existing species, a new evolutionary relationship was established and reflected in the revised cladogram.
History Tree:
Common Ancestor
/ | \
A B Common Ancestor
/ \
C D