Examine the phylogenetic tree of the 13 finch species below. Which of the following statements is a correct interpretation of the phylogenetic tree in the illustration?
Small ground
Medium ground
Large ground
Cactus
Large cactus
Sharp-beaked ground
Smal tree
Large tree
Wanapudu
|
a. The sharp-beaked ground finch is more closely related to the small tree finch than
either species is to the cactus finch.
b. The warbler finch is the common ancestor to all the finch species that exist today in
the Galápagos Islands.
c. All the Galápagos finches are more closely related to one another than they are to
mainland finch species.
d. The 13 finch species evolved in sequence; the warbler finch is the oldest species and
the small ground finch is the most recent species to evolve