Science teaser: Family Relationship

1)  What do you think the closest relative of this creature is?

Vizcacha

2)  Look at it and by its outward appearance and its habitat, decide whether it is related to a:

(a) Rabbit

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=rabbit&qpvt=rabbit&qpvt=rabbit&FORM=IARRSM#view=detail&id=347D59238A438531400693B1C9F1D1DCE99EE7D4&selectedIndex=18

(b) Rat

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=rat&qs=n&form=QBIRMH&pq=rat&sc=8-3&sp=-1&sk=#view=detail&id=5FB689162F5E66F1DB26072DD9FB1440AD502783&selectedIndex=108

(c) Trick question, it is a Photoshop fake

(d) Something else

 

2)   Search these creatures in the net: rabbit, skunk, vizcacha, opossum, rat, groundhog and list out in a table their taxonomic classification.

Slide1

3)   Draw a phylogenetic tree based on the taxonomic classification showing the relationship among these animals.

4) Be ready to explain your answer by citing the information you found and the references. Remember:  I said…… because…….

5) The level of difficulty will increase if Infraclass and Genus is added to the table.