NEST2026BiologyAnimal Kingdom
The table shows the presence (+) / absence (-) of features 1 – 5 for animals P – U. P Q R S T U 1 - - - - - + 2 - - - - + + 3 - - - + + + 4 - - + + + + 5 - + + + + + Based on the table, the correct statement is:
Options
- AIf S, T and U respectively are salamander, turtle and leopard, then features 1 and 2 could respectively repres
- BIf S, T and U are respectively amphibian, reptile and mammal, then feature 3 could be amniotic egg.
- CIf Q and R represent lamprey and fish respectively, then feature 4 could be jaws.
- DFeature 5 is the most recently evolved trait.
Correct answer
C. If Q and R represent lamprey and fish respectively, then feature 4 could be jaws.
Step-by-step solution
Based on the given table, the features represent a nested clade structure where feature 5 is the most ancestral (shared by Q, R, S, T, U) and feature 1 is the most recently evolved (unique to U). Let us evaluate each option: Option (A): Lampreys are jawless vertebrates (Agnatha), while fishes (like Chondrichthyes and Osteichthyes) have jaws (Gnathostomata). If Q is a lamprey and R is a fish, feature 4 could represent jaws, as Q is (-) and R is (+) for feature 4. This is consistent with the table. Option (B): Featur