Question

Imagine a data table was made to show how many features each of the given animals (lancelet, lamprey, tuna, salamander, turtle, leopard, dolphin) have in comparison to each other. The features would be (1) Backbone, (2) Hinged Jaw, (3) Four limbs, (4) Amnion, (5) Milk, and (6) Dorsal fin. Given the information in the data table, answer the following question:

If you were to create a phylogenetic tree of these organisms, which would branch off first and why?

Please answer correctly and briefly.

Answer 1

The lancelet would branch off first because it lacks all of the specified features, making it the most primitive organism in the group.