Final answer:
A cladogram is a graphical representation of the evolutionary relationships between groups of organisms, used to infer relatedness based on shared characteristics. It shows branching patterns and distances to indicate the recency of shared common ancestors. By analyzing and comparing the characteristics and relationships shown on the cladogram, scientists can make inferences about the evolutionary history of the group.
Step-by-step explanation:
A cladogram is a graphical representation of the evolutionary relationships between groups of organisms. It is used to infer the relatedness between different species based on their shared characteristics. To interpret a cladogram, you can look for the branching patterns and the distance between species or groups on the diagram. The closer two species are located, the more recently they shared a common ancestor. For example, if birds and reptiles share a recent common ancestor, they would be represented as closely related on the cladogram. By analyzing and comparing the characteristics and relationships shown on the cladogram, scientists can make inferences about the evolutionary history of the group.