A new animal was discovered in a remote area of Southeast Asia. The animal seemed to resemble a crocodile. Biologists have several ways that they can classify the mystery animal and determine its evolutionary history. One way involves identifying important characteristics of the animal and forming a hypothesis about the order in which it evolved from a common ancestor. The first step in this process is to analyze the characteristics in a data table. The cladogram below, based on the data in the table, could show the evolutionary relationships of these animals. Where would a biologist place the mystery animal on the cladogram? (SC.912.L.15.1)

Question

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1 point
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before the fish
between the fish and the deer
between the deer and the human
after the human

Answer 1

The biologist would place the mystery animal between the fish and the deer on the cladogram, as this would represent its evolutionary relationship in relation to the other animals listed.