Label whether the groups highlighted in pink in the figure a

Label whether the groups highlighted in pink in the figure are monophyletic, polyphyletic, or paraphyletic. (Note these phylogenies are drawn with diagonal branches rather than rectangular branches as see in the text.)

Solution

Answer:

First Diagram: Monophyletic, since it includes most recent ancestor along with all its descendants

Second Diagram: Paraphyletic, since it includes most recent ancestor along with some of its descendants

Third Diagram: Polyphyletic, since it does not include the common ancestor of all its descendants