The figure shows a phylogeny of snakes and their relatives B

The figure shows a phylogeny of snakes and their relatives. Based on the information in this figure about which taxa are known to be venomous, why did Bryan Fry and his colleagues hypothesize that monitor lizards and iguanas would also be venomous?

a. If venomousness is a homoplasy in snakes and Gila monsters, then others in the monophyletic group that includes these species also may have inherited this trait from their common ancestor. b. If venomousness is homologous in snakes and Gila monsters, then others in the monophyletic group that includes these species also may have independently evolved this trait due to common selective pressures. c. If venomousness is homologous in snakes and Gila monsters, then others in the monophyletic group that includes these species also may have inherited this trait from their common ancestor. d. Monitor lizards and iguanas have long been known to be venomous.

Most recent Common ancestor of snakes and Gila monsters Members of these groups were known to be venomous when Fry and his colleagues began their study Serpentes Helodermatidae Anguidae Varanidae Iguania Snakes Gila monsters Glass lizards Monitor lizards Iguanas

Solution

c. If venomousness is homologous in snakes and Gila monsters, then others in the monophyletic group that includes these species also may have inherited this trait from their common ancestor.