Question

Imagine you are building a phylogeny to understand the relationships between different species of cats (Felidae). You include character data for a hyena, which is not a member of the Felidae, in order to infer ancestral states. In this scenario, the hyena is serving as a(n):

1) character
2) synapomorphy
3) outgroup
4) polytomy

Answer 1

The hyena serves as the 3) outgroup in the phylogeny because it provides ancestral states to help understand the relationships between different species of cats in the Felidae family.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the scenario you described, the hyena would serve as the outgroup in the phylogeny. An outgroup is a species or group of species that diverged before the lineage containing the group(s) of interest. By comparing the characteristics of the outgroup to the species in the Felidae family, you can infer ancestral states and determine the relationships between the different species of cats.