Evolution

I will use the trait #6 to determine the evolution in each phylogeny. In Phylogeny A, the presence of the tail is a derived trait in the tree. The taxa without tails are the ancestral. Based on tails being the derived trait, the trait only evolved once within the tree and connects all taxa with the derived trait only separating them further with other derived traits. The taxa included are Bears, Sea Lions, Walrus, and Seals. In Phylogeny B, the presence of trait #6 is a derived trait and evolved twice independently. Those included with tails are Seals, Bears, Sea lions, and Walrus, although, Seals are not connected to the other taxa having separately earlier with the presence of other traits. In Phylogeny C, the appearance of #6 trait is an ancestral trait. The trait evolved twice independently. The trait also was lost once therefore the deriving of Civets, Hyenas, and Cats. Based on the parsimony principle, which suggests the alternative hypothesis that has the fewest assumptions or steps is usually the best, this would suggest that Phylogeny A would be the one that is most likely.