The Ratites Are a Group of Flightless Birds Comprising the Ostrich

Multiple Choice

The ratites are a group of flightless birds comprising the ostrich, emu, cassowaries, rheas, and kiwis. All share certain morphological similarities (such as a breastbone without a keel) not found in other birds, but they live on different continents. In the past, some ornithologists regarded their similarities as homoplasies, but they are now thought to be synapomorphies. Based on this information, you would conclude that the ratites were once regarded as a _______ group but are now believed to be _______.

A) polyphyletic; paraphyletic
B) paraphyletic; monophyletic
C) polyphyletic; monophyletic
D) monophyletic; polyphyletic
E) monophyletic; paraphyletic