A particular taxon includes a common ancestor, all descendants of that ancestor, and no other organisms.Accordingly, it is considered to be
A) paraphyletic.
B) polyphyletic.
C) synapomorphous.
D) monogamous.
E) monophyletic.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A taxon that includes a common ancestor and all descendants of that ancestor is monophyletic. Paraphyletic taxa include the common ancestor and some descendants, but exclude others. Polyphyletic taxa do not include the common ancestor at all. Synapomorphous refers to shared derived characteristics, not a taxonomic group. Monogamous refers to a mating system, not a taxonomic group.

A Particular Taxon Includes a Common Ancestor, All Descendants of That