Question

crocodiles, lizards, and snakes are all reptiles. however, lizards are more closely related to snakes than to crocodiles. which statement most accurately describes how this relationship is explained in darwin’s theory of evolution?
a lizards and crocodiles have no history of any common ancestors.
b crocodiles and snakes are more alike since they both develop from an egg.
c lizards and snakes are more alike since both species have a recent common ancestor.
d snakes and lizards are anatomically more alike due to the presence of analogous structures.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option based on Darwin's Theory of Evolution (common ancestry):

• Option A: Incorrect. All reptiles share common ancestors, so lizards and crocodiles do have common ancestry.
• Option B: Incorrect. Developmental similarity (egg - laying) is not the main factor for evolutionary relatedness.
• Option C: Correct. Evolutionary relatedness is based on common ancestry. If lizards are more closely related to snakes than to crocodiles, it means lizards and snakes share a more recent common ancestor.
• Option D: Incorrect. Analogous structures are for convergent evolution (unrelated species with similar functions), while relatedness is about homologous structures and common ancestry.

Answer:

C. Lizards and snakes are more alike since both species have a recent common ancestor.