Scientists are constructing an evolutionary tree for four species of marine mollusc. The table shows the evidence available.
| Species | Status | Genus | Family | Number of structural characteristics in fossils of D that also occur in the species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | living | Luma | Neridae | 12 |
| B | living | Luma | Neridae | 11 |
| C | living | Tera | Neridae | 4 |
| D | extinct | — | — | — |
Explain how the classification data for species A, B and C and the fossil evidence for species D can help scientists work out the evolutionary relationships between the four species.
Use the data to suggest where species D should be placed on the evolutionary tree and which two living species should share the most recent branch split. Explain your answers.
81 exam-style questions on AQA GCSE Biology 6.4 Classification of living organisms, covering 6.4 Classification of living organisms. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.