(E) Identify the monophyletic, paraphyletic and polyphyletic group in your

constructed phylogenetic tree.

Monophyletic groups from

Phylogenetic Tree A.

Each monophyletic group

includes a common ancestor
and all of their descendants and
is united by their
synapomorphic traits. The first
monophyletic group included
those who have descended
from an ancestor with
backbone, the second from an
ancestor with hinged jaws, the
third from those with four
Paraphyletic groups from
Phylogenetic Tree A.

Each paraphyletic group

includes a common ancestor
but not all of their descendants.
A specific taxon from the
monophyletic group was
excluded to form the
paraphyletic group. The first
group excluded those with four
limbs, the second excluded
those with amnion, the third
excluded those with mammary

Polyphyletic groups from

Phylogenetic Tree A.

Each polyphyletic taxon

descended from more than one
ancestor that has different
traits. The lamprey descended
from an ancestor with
backbone while the salmon
descended from an ancestor
with a hinged jaw and dorsal
fin. The same goes for the other
polyphyletic groups.
Monophyletic groups from
Phylogenetic Tree C.

The same monophyletic groups

from the Phylogenetic Tree A.
The only difference is the
removal of one monophyletic
group due to the change in the
arrangement of taxon since
salmon became a sister species
of dolphin.

Paraphyletic groups from

Phylogenetic Tree C.

The paraphyletic groups in this

tree is less than those from tree
A since the dolphin is no longer
the last taxon and is placed as a
sister taxon with the salmon.

Polyphyletic groups from

Phylogenetic Tree C.

The polyphyletic groups from

this tree shows that the taxon
have descended from more
than one ancestor. The salmon
came from an ancestor with
hinged jaws and dorsal fine
while the tortoise came from
an ancestor that had hinged
jaws, four limbs, and amnion.