Question

Mr. Morales is teaching a lesson on classification. He says that spiders are classified as a different group than insects because they have eight legs instead of six legs. He explains that spiders evolved first. Mr. Morales also says that having eight legs is the derived trait that separates the two groups. Antonio thinks Mr. Morales is wrong. Which piece of information is Antonio considering? Spiders do not have eight legs. Insects do not have six legs. If spiders evolved first, six legs is the derived trait. Spiders do not have derived traits, since they evolved first.

Answer 1

I think Mr. Morales is correct

Answer 2

Antonio is right, Mr. Morales's theory is wrong somewhere.

Like all the information he provided is true except one, which is also self-contradictory.

According to Mr. Morales 'having eight legs is the derived trait' ; now if we consider the definition of derived trait, it can be clearly shown that the traits which were present in ancestral species but absent in the modern species called derived trait.

If spiders evolved first(which is true) how it can have derived traits!!?? Because here spiders itself are the ancestral species of the insects.