Universal Ancestor
- Ester Linkages
- DNA Presence
E. Coli
Bacteria
- Peptidoglycan
Common Ancestor of Eukarya and Archaea
- Histones Present
- Methionine
- Multiple RNA polymerase with 8 or more polypeptides
Methanobrevibacter smithii
Archaea
-Ether linkages
American Black Bear (Ursus americanus)
Eukarya
- Organelles
- Nucleus
Chlorophytes
Archaeplastida
- Primary plastids
Braun's stonewort (Chara braunii)
Charophytes
- Zygotic life cycle
Common Ancestor
- Sporic Life Cycle
- Presence of Embryo
- Desiccation-resistant spores
- Apical Meristems
- Gametangia
- Sporangia
Common Liverwort (Marchantia polymorpha)
Liverworts
Common Ancestor
Woolly Feather Moss (Tomentypnum nitens)
Mosses
Common Ancestor
Field Hornwort (Anthoceros agrestis)
Hornworts
Common Ancestor
- Presence of Lignin
- Xylem/Phloem
- Sporophyte (dominant generation)
- Thick Waxy Cuticle
- Stomata
Fan Clubmoss (Diphasiastrum digitatum)
Lycophytes
- Lycophyll Leaves
Common Ancestor
Eastern Marsh Fern (Thelypteris palustris)
Monilophytes
- Megaphylls Leaves
Common Ancestor
- Ovules
- Pollen
- Seeds
- Heterospory
- Wood
Gymnosperms
Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris)
Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum)
Angiosperms
- Fruit
- Endosperm
- Ovaries
- Flowers
Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)
White Water Lily (Nymphaea alba)
Slime Mold
Unikonta
Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria)
Opisthokonta
- Single posterior flagellum
- Multicellular
- Absorptive heterotroph
Common Ancestor of Choanoflagelletes and Animals
Choanoflagellate
American Black Bear
Animals
- Mobility
- Complex organ system
- Gametic life cycle
Giant Barrel Sponge
Porifera
Eumetazoa
Moon Jelly
Cnidaria
- Radial body symmetry
- Diploplasty
Medusozoans
Hydrozoa
- Pennaria disticha
- Polyp and medusa forms (alternation)
Scyphozoa
- Moon Jelly
- Medusa form most of its life
Anthozoans
- Elkhorn Coral
- Polyp form
Monarch Butterfly
Bilateria
- Bilateral body symmetry
Humboldt Squid
Protostomia
- Spiral and determinate embryonic cleavage
- Fate of blastopore: mouth
- Cephalization
Golden Apple Snail
Lophotrochozoa
- Triploblasty
- Presence of trochophore larvae or lophophore
Mullusca
- Humboldt Squid
- Golden Apple Snail
Gastropoda
- Golden Apple Snail
- Shell (Marine and Terrestrial)
Bivalvia
- Soft Shell Clam
- Shells divided in two (two halves, all marine)
Cephalopoda
- Humboldt Squid
- Tentacles
Annelida
- Common Earthworm
Platyhelminthes
- Pork Tapeworm
Rhabditophorans
- Macrostomum lignano
- Parasitic
Cestoda
- Pork Tapeworm
- Lacks mouth and gastrovascular cavity
Trematoda
- Sheep Liver Fluke
- Require intermediate host
Chesapeake Blue Crab
Ecdysozoa
- Diploblasty
- Ecdysis
Nematoads
- Roundworm
Arthropoda
Chelicerata
- Southern Black Widow
- Claw-like feeding appendages
Common Ancestor
Subtopic
Common Ancestor
Crustacea
- Chesapeake Blue Crab
- Specialized appendages (claws/pinchers)
Common Ancestor
Hexapoda (Insects)
- Monarch Butterfly
- Several complex organ systems
- Metamorphosis
Giant Sea Star
Deuterostoma
- Triploblasty
- Radial and indeterminate embryonic cleavage
- Fate of blastopore: anus
Echinoderms
- Water vascular system
Asteroidea
- Giant Sea Star
- Adhesive chemicals for gripping
Ophiuroidea
- Serpent Star
- No adhesive chemicals
Echinoidea
- Purple Sea Urchin
- No arms and spikes
Holothuroidea
- California Sea Cucumber
- Lack spines
- Reduced endoskeleton
Common Ancestor
- Notochord
- Hollow, dorsal nerve cord
- Post, anal tail
- Pharyngeal slits
Cephalochordata
- Branchiostoma lanceolatum
Common Ancestor
Urochordata
- Sea Peaches
Common Ancestor
- Cranium
- Vertebral column
Pacific Hagfish
Agnathans
Common Ancestor
- Jaws
Great White Shark
Chondrichthyes
- Cartilaginous skeleton
Common Ancestor
- Bony skeleton
- Lungs/ lung derivatives
Blue Tang
Ray-finned fishes
Common Ancestor
-Lobe fins
Coelacanth
Lobe-finned fishes
Common Ancestor
- Limbs with digits
- Amniotic eggs
Red Eyed Tree Frog
Amphibia
- Ectotherm
Common Ancestor
Green Sea Turtle
Reptilia
- Ectotherm
- Birds : Endotherms
American Black Bear
Mammalia
- Endotherm
- Hair
- Milk
Black Bread Mold (Rhizopus stolonifer)
Fungi
- Cell Wall
- Zygotic life cycle
Amoeba
Amoebozoa
- Pseudopodia (tubular or flat lobes)
Radiolarians
SAR Clade
Foraminiferas
Rhizaria
- Filose pseudopodia
Common ancestor of Stramenopila and Alveolata
- Secondary plastids
Diatoms
Stramenopila
- Tripartite flagellar hair
Dinoflagelletes
Alveolata
- Membranous vesicles on cell membrane
- Tertiary plastids
Euglenoids
Excavata
- Feeding groove
- Secondary plastids