Name:
AP Biology
Building Cladograms
1. Fill in the following table. Mark an “X” if an organism has the trait.
cells
legs
6 legs
wings
Worm
Spider
Carpenter Ant (black)
Fly
2. Add each of these organisms to the cladogram below: worm, spider, ant, fly
3. In the box below use complete sentences to explain why you put each organism where you
did on the cladogram.
4. Annotate the cladogram above by adding traits that make the organisms different from each
other.
5. According to your cladogram, which two species are more closely related: worms and spiders
or worms and ants? How do you know?
6. According to your cladogram, what species are flies most closely related to? How do you
know?
Animals
Ray Finned Fishes
Crocodiles
Rodents &Rabbits
Amphibians
Primates
Birds
Sharks
Description of traits
Bony skeleton with a central nerve chord contained within vertebrae. Lay eggs
that require water to survive. Scaly skin that will dry and desiccate out of water.
Bony skeleton with a central nerve chord contained within vertebrae. They have
four limbs and lay amniotic eggs which can survive out of water. Scaly skin that
prevents desiccation out of water
Bony skeleton with a central nerve chord contained within vertebrae. Have hair
and produce live offspring with an amniotic sac contained in uterus. Four limbs
with paws built for running and jumping.
Bony skeleton with a central nerve chord contained within vertebrae. They have
four limbs and lay eggs which require water to survive. Thin skin that requires
water to prevent desiccation.
Bony skeleton with a central nerve chord contained within vertebrae. Have hair
and produce live offspring with an amniotic sac contained in uterus. Four limbs
with opposable thumbs built for grasping.
Bony skeleton with a central nerve chord contained within vertebrae. They have
four limbs and lay amniotic eggs which can survive out of water. Scaly skin on
legs but the rest of the body is covered in feathers specialized for flight.
Skeleton made of cartilage with a central nerve chord contained within
vertebrae. Lay eggs that require water to survive. Scaly skin that will dry and
desiccate out of water.
7. Create a cladogram for the organisms above.
8. USING complete sentences, explain why you put each organism where you did on the
cladogram.
9. On the cladogram above, add traits that make the organisms different from each other.
10. According to your cladogram, which two species are more closely related: reptiles and
amphibians or reptiles and birds? How do you know?