The tree shown is a cladogram of a sample from various taxon

The tree shown is a cladogram of a sample from various taxonomic orders of mammals.   A related outgroup species, the Monotreme (a primitive mammal which evolved before placentals and marsupials), is included to root the phylogenetic tree. In answering the questions below, refer to the strength of support from bootstrap analysis. Please answer in full sentences. All answers can be drawn out from the picture.

(A) Do these results support the hypothesis that grouping only the orders of Primates, Rodents, Lagomorphs, Scandentia, and Dermoptera are monophyletic?

(B) Do they support the hypothesis that the taxonomic group of Laurasiatheria is monophyletic?

(C) According to the tree, do the orders Carnivores, Pholidates, and Cetartiodactyls form a monophyletic group?

(D) Are Afrotheria and Laurasiatheria a monophyletic group?  

Marsupialia Afrosoricida Proboscidea Sirenia Xenarthra Dermoptera Primates Lagomorpha Rodentia Eulpotyphl la 4 Pholidota Perissodactyla f Chiroptera

Solution

1. In common cladistic usage, a monophyletic group is a taxon (group of organisms) which forms a clade, meaning that it consists of an ancestral species and all its descendants. This hypothesis states that grouping only the orders of primates, rodents, lagomorphs, scandentia, and dermoptera are monophyletic.