Question

Why do some biologists not consider reptiles to be a monophyletic group?

A) Reptiles evolved independently at several different times in the past and from several different ancestral species.
B) Birds are the direct descendants of some reptiles.
C) All reptiles do not reproduce sexually.
D) The ancestors of reptiles are the class Amphibia.
E) Reptiles, birds, amphibians, and fish appeared in the fossil record at approximately the same time.

Answer 1

Reptiles are not considered monophyletic because they evolved independently and do not share a common ancestor. Birds, which evolved from reptiles, further support this idea. The ancestors of reptiles are the class Amphibia.

Step-by-step explanation:

Reptiles are not considered a monophyletic group by some biologists because they do not share a common ancestor that is exclusive to the group. Instead, reptiles evolved independently at different times and from different ancestral species. For example, birds are direct descendants of some reptiles. Additionally, the ancestors of reptiles are the class Amphibia, not a common reptilian ancestor.