It Was Once Thought That Cetaceans Had Evolved from an Extinct

question 69

Multiple Choice

It was once thought that cetaceans had evolved from an extinct group of mammals called the mesonychids. If, in the future, it is determined that some organisms currently classified as cetaceans did actually evolve from mesonychids, whereas other cetaceans evolved from artiodactyl stock, then what will be true of the order Cetacea?

• A) It will be paraphyletic.
• B) It will be polyphyletic.
• C) It will need to be thrown out or modified if classification is to reflect evolutionary history.
• D) Two of the responses are correct.

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