High School

Primates

1. Is the group of primates with tails paraphyletic, monophyletic, or polyphyletic? Why?

2. What is a synapomorphy for the apes?

3. What is an ancestral trait for the apes?

Answer :

Final answer:

Primates with tails form a paraphyletic group because not all descendants (like apes) have tails. The absence of a tail is a synapomorphy for apes, distinguishing them from other primates. An ancestral trait shared by apes and their ancestors is the flexible shoulder joints that allow for brachiation.

Explanation:

The group of primates with tails is considered paraphyletic. A paraphyletic group includes an ancestor but not all of its descendants. In this context, some primates, such as apes, have evolutionary ancestors with tails but do not have tails themselves.

A synapomorphy for apes, or a characteristic that evolved in the ancestor of a group and is shared exclusively by members of that group, is the absence of a tail. This trait differentiates apes from other primates.

An ancestral trait for apes would be a trait shared with their common ancestors. One key ancestral trait is the highly flexible shoulder joints that allow for brachiation.”

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