Question

VISUAL SKILLS Based on the tree below, which statement is

notcorrect?

(A) Goats and humans form a sister group.

(B) Salamanders are a sister group to the group containing

lizards, goats, and humans.

(C) Salamanders are as closely related to goats as to humans.

(D) Lizards are more closely related to salamanders than to

humans.

Short answer

(A) The statement “Goats and humans form a sister group” is correct.

(B) The statement “Salamanders are a sister group to the group containing

lizards, goats, and humans” is correct.

(C) The statement “Salamanders are as closely related to goats as to humans” is correct.

(D) The statement “Lizards are more closely related to salamanders than to

humans” is incorrect.

Step-by-step solution

Characteristics of Phylogenetic Tree

The tree that is designed to show evolutionary relationships between a variety of organisms is called a phylogenetic tree. It is based on a hypothesis, not proper facts. It shows the pattern of how species evolved from common ancestors.

Explanation of option (A)

Goats are organisms that belong to the family Bovidae and phylum Chordata. The representation given in the phylogenetic tree indicates that goats and humans are evolved from the same ancestors.

Thus, the goats and humans belong to sister groups due to their evolution from the same ancestors.

Therefore, the given statement is correct.

Explanation of option (B)

The main ancestor from which goats, lizards, and salamanders evolved is the same. This indicates that the salamanders show a sister group with all these groups of organisms.

Thus, salamanders show sister groups with other organisms given in the tree.

Therefore, the given statement is correct.

Explanation of option (C)

Salamanders are amphibians that belong to the phylum Chordata and Kingdom Animalia. The branching length of goats and salamanders is not very long, which indicates that they are closely related to each other.

Thus, salamanders are closely related to goats.

Therefore, the given statement is correct.

Explanation of option (D)

The phylogenetic tree indicates that lizards and humans possess more common ancestors than salamanders. This indicates that lizards are more nearly related to Homo sapiens than salamanders.

Thus, lizards are not closely related to salamanders than humans.

Therefore, the given statement is incorrect.