Question

PLEASE HELP! Which is a correct interpretation of this cladogram?

A.
Salmon do not have segmented bodies.

B.
Earthworms are organisms that have jaws.

C.
Lizards were the first organisms on Earth to have limbs.

D.
Kangaroos evolved after earthworms.

Answer 1

Answer: Salmon evolved before kangaroos

Answer 2

C. Lizards were the first organisms on Earth to have limbs.

Step-by-step explanation:

This cladogram illustrates when and in what species novel anatomical traits occurred. All the organisms that follow after a certain point will have this trait present. Thus, earthworms are the first species to evolve segmented bodies which will be present in all the following organisms such as salmons. Here, segmentation is found in the vertebrae of the backbone as well as in the muscles and nerves that spread from the spinal cord, at a finer level.

This cladogram does not illustrate the evolutionary time relationship between different species. Thus, it cannot be inferred that the kangaroos evolved after earthworms.