Question

Anteaters (mammals) and chameleons (reptiles) both have long tongues with which to feed on insects. Based on tongue morphology, these organisms demonstrate an example of ___________, and would therefore be represented as a __________ group in a phylogeny?

A. divergent evolution, monophyletic

B. homology, paraphyletic

C. convergent evolution, monophyletic

D. homoplasty, polyphyletic

Answer 1

C. Convergent evolution and monophyletic.

Explanation: When similar character occurs in two unrelated species is called convergent evolution. Anteaters (mammals) and chameleons (reptiles) are two unrelated species which have long tongues with similar feature. The long character of Anteaters and chameleons are monophyletic because reptiles, birds and mammals are share common ancestor. When disimilar character occurs in two related species is called divergent evolution. Long tongues character of Anteaters and chameleons is not a divergent character. When similar character occurs in two related species is called Homology. Homoplasty is not a related term with evolution.