EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Reptiles are a paraphyletic group because they do not include all descendants of their most recent common ancestor. Reptiles and birds share several derived characters, including several skull characteristics and a largely aglandular skin with a special type of harder keratin called beta keratin.

Detailed explanation-2: -The perhaps most compelling example for a paraphyletic group are the Reptilia (turtles, tuataras, lizards and snakes, crocodiles plus dinosaur-like reptiles), the lineage which also gave rise to the birds. The erection of a separate grouping for the birds (Aves) renders the Reptilia paraphyletic.

Detailed explanation-3: -As is made clear by the picture, reptiles include a group of animals which is paraphyletic. This is a paraphyletic group because it excludes the mammals (“Mammalia”) and the birds (“Aves”). Both of these groups are descendants of the first animals with amniotic development, the “Amniota”.

Detailed explanation-4: -Paraphyletic taxon : A group composed of a collection of organisms, including the most recent common ancestor of all those organisms. Unlike a monophyletic group, a paraphyletic taxon does not include all the descendants of the most recent common ancestor.

Detailed explanation-5: -Reptiles are a paraphyletic group: in terms of appearance a crocodile has more in common with lizards than birds and both crocodiles and lizards are classed as reptiles.