Question

Cladistic taxonomy places the birds as Archosaurs, along with the
(a)Mammals
(b)Crocodilians
(c)Turtles
(d)Snakes
(e)None of the above

Answer 1

Hint: Cladistic taxonomy is an approach to the classification of living organisms that share more than one characteristics which are derived from a common ancestor. It is a method of reconstructing evolutionary relationships for the importance of descent and common ancestor. It gives the relationship between Archosaurs and reptiles with a four-chambered heart.

Complete answer:
Crocodilians are placed along with the birds as Archosaurs in the cladistic taxonomy. Pink leather stick taxonomy grouping of organisms takes place based on shared features or characteristics which are for the branched out as individual characteristics that begin to differ. Archosaurs are a group which includes the extinct dinosaurs and pterosaurs. It is suggested by fossils which were 80 to 100 million years ago have a recent common ancestor of living gharials, alligators and crocodiles. They have a distinct morphology and limited intraspecific variations with the slow karyotype evolution. They are known for their genome evolution within the crocodilians. They consist of the lower jaw that is the mandibular fenestra, teeth set in sockets which are known as thecodont tooth implantation, a pointed snout and modified ankle joints.

Additional Information: Mammals: It is a group of vertebrate animals which are characterized by the presence of mammary glands. The females produce milk for feeding their young ones through the mammary glands which are known as nursing. They contain neocortex which is a region of the brain and three middle ear bones. In cladistics, the mammals are the only living members of the Synapsida which constitutes the reptiles and birds. They have the quadruped body type and are used for their terrestrial locomotion. They can live from 2 years to 211 years. The species of mammals that are the placentals are the richest which enable the feeding of foetus during the gestation period.
Turtles: They are the reptiles which are characterized by a special Bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs. This helps them and acts as a shield. They refer to the order as a whole or fresh-water and sea-dwelling testudines. Some of them are the long-lived members of the reptile family and can live between 30 and 40 years if healthy. They are aquatic with webbed feet and streamlined bodies but lay their eggs in the sand. They eat insect larvae, worm plants, algae and fallen fruit.
Snakes: Snakes are elongated and legless carnivorous reptiles. They are ectothermic and covered with overlapping scales. Some of them lay eggs while others give birth in broods which range from one or two newborns to two letters of nearly a hundred. They cause no disturbance and can frighten their prey. They enter narrow holes in the ground made by rodents and eat them.
So, the correct answer is 'crocodilians'.

Note: Turtles belong to the oldest reptile group leaving behind crocodiles and snakes. Turtle consists of 50 bones which include its ribcage and spine. Snakes consist of no eyelids and have internal ears but not external ones. They smell with their tongue and can't bite food so they swallow the food.