Answer to Question #325643 in Zoology for JIMELYN MACULAM

Question

describe hypothetical synapomorphies that would result in an assemblage of one order and two families

Answer 1

Synapomorphies are the advanced character state shared among two or more taxa inherited from the most recent common ancestor whose own ancestor in turn is inferred not to have such traits and is derived through evolution.

For example, the presence of mammary glands is a synapomorphy for mammals in relation to tetrapods but is a symplesiomorphy for mammals in relation to one another—rodents and primates.