You Are Conducting a Comparative Analysis of Five Species of Elves.You

Multiple Choice

You are conducting a comparative analysis of five species of elves.You find that four of the five species possess pointed ears,whereas the fifth does not.Further,no other closely related species has pointed ears.Which of the following is the most parsimonious conclusion about elvish ears?

A) Pointed ears evolved four independent times in the four pointed-ear species.
B) Pointed ears evolved by a combination of adaptation and exaptation.
C) Pointed ears are a plesiomorphic feature of elves that was lost in one species.
D) Pointed ears are an example of homoplasy because not all elves possess them.