Evolutionary History 1.4 (2/16) Exit Ticket

Last updated about 3 years ago

2 Nsɛmmisa

This bandicoot, this sea lion, and this zebra have similarities and differences in their body structures. What does the information about these structures tell you about the ancestors of these species?

Sea lions and zebras share the same ancestor population, but they must not share an ancestor with bandicoots because sea lions and zebras do not have a pouch for their babies.

None share an ancestor population because different species cannot share an ancestor population. It is a coincidence that these species have some of the same body structures.

All three species share an ancestor population, but sea lions and zebras share a more recent ancestor population. This is why neither shares the pouch structure for their babies.

We cannot make observations of ancestor populations from the past. It is impossible to explain ancestors with only the information about the body structures of different species.