Name: _________________________________________________________ Date: _________________________

NAT SCI 1
Fundamentals of Biology and Chemistry

Problem Set No. 4

Evolutionary Biology

Below are the lists of words and groups of organisms under Phylum Chordata (chordates)
specifically vertebrate chordates. Both are related to one another from the perspective of
evolution. Construct a dendrogram, which will show the relationship of these words and
groups of organisms to demonstrate the evolution of life.

List of Words List of Groups of Vertebrate Chordates

Ancestral chordates Urochordates
Non-Vertebrates Cephalochordates
Unsegmented body Agnatha
Segmented body Chondrichthyes
Vertebrates Osteichthyes
With jaws Amphibia
Without jaws Reptilia
With lungs Aves
With jointed appendages Mammals
With amniotic egg
With amniotic egg but without feathers
With amniotic egg and feathers
With hair and mammary glands

The definition of terms below provides you clues in constructing the dendrogram.

Dendrogam – a branching diagram

that represents the
relationships of
similarity among a
group of entities;

Sample dendrogram

(your expected answer should be

like this sample dendrogram but
containing all the above listed
words.)

Clue: begin your dendrogram with

“Ancestral chordates” from the list just like the “Common ancestor” in the sample
dendrogram.
Urochordates – these are unsegmented non-vertebrates covered with tunic (ex. tunicates)
Cephalochorates – these are segmented non-vertebrates that are lancet shape (ex.
lancelets)
Agnatha – these are vertebrates without jaws (ex. hagfishes)
Chondrichthyes – these are vertebrates with jaws but cartilaginous but without lungs but
rather a gills (ex. sharks)
Osteichthyes – these are vertebrates with jaws, bony, with lungs but without jointed
appendages (ex. sardines)
Amphibia – these are vertebrates with jaws, bones, with lungs and with jointed appendages
(ex. frog)
Reptilia – these are vertebrates with jaws, bones, with lungs, with jointed appendages,
bearing amniotic egg but without feathers (ex. snakes and turtles)
Aves – these are vertebrates with jaws, bones, with lungs, with jointed appendages, bearing
amniotic egg and with feathers (ex. birds)
Mammals - these are vertebrates with jaws, bones, with lungs, with jointed appendages,
bearing amniotic fluids, with hairs instead of feathers, and mammary glands
(ex. humans)