A phylogenetic tree is shown in part (b) of the image above. Phylogenetic trees visually represent hypotheses of the evolutionary relationships and ancestry of species or species groups. In this case, Najash is placed in proposed context with other snake species, representing different groups of snakes around the world. What can you conclude about the evolution of sea snakes and the Najash species?

Question

A. The phylogenetic tree shows that Najash, lower in the diagram, had the fossil marine snakes in its ancestry.
B. Najash diverged separately and earlier than the three fossil marine snakes, indicating only a weak evolutionary relationship.
C. All of these answer options are correct, except that Najash did not have fossil marine snakes in its ancestry.
D. Najash is proposed as a separate group from other snakes, while the three fossil marine snakes are more similar to living snakes.
E. Both Najash and the three fossil marine snakes have ancestry traced back to an original snake species.

Answer 1

E. Both Najash and the three fossil marine snakes have ancestry traced back to an original snake species.