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. Explain how you created your new cladogram, and: identify which derived characters were homologies or analogies explain the evolutionary history of the organisms shown by your tree explain how you used new evidence to revise your cladogram.
Character Matrix:
Species A: Hair-covered body, four limbs, live birth, omnivorous diet
Species B: Scaled body, four limbs, egg-laying, carnivorous diet
New Xenite species: Feathered body, four limbs, live birth, herbivorous diet
Cladogram:
____________ Species A
|
______|__________ Species B
|
|__________ New Xenite species
Explanation of Cladogram:
The cladogram shows the evolutionary relationship between the three Xenite species based on their derived characters. The feathered body of the new Xenite species is a homology with Species A, as it likely evolved from a common ancestor that had hair-covered bodies. The live birth reproductive method of both Species A and the new Xenite species is also a homology, suggesting a closer evolutionary relationship between them compared to Species B. The herbivorous diet of the new Xenite species is an analogy with Species B, as they independently evolved to consume plant matter despite having different ancestral diets.
The cladogram suggests that the new Xenite species shares a more recent common ancestor with Species A than with Species B, as they both exhibit live birth and similar body coverings. The presence of four limbs in all three species indicates that this trait is likely ancestral within the Xenite lineage. The different reproductive methods and diets seen in the three species suggest divergent evolution from a common ancestor that possessed a combination of traits found in each of the species.
The new evidence of the discovery of the feathered, herbivorous Xenite species led to the revision of the cladogram to incorporate this new species. By analyzing the shared derived characters among the species, a more accurate representation of their evolutionary relationships could be determined. This revised cladogram provides insight into the unique evolutionary history of each Xenite species and their adaptations to different ecological niches.