Question

Which of the following is distantly related among each other?
(a) Crocodiles
(b) Snakes
(c) Tuataras
(d) Turtles

Answer 1

All the given species belong to the class Reptilia. The class has various characteristic features that include laying of eggs inside the female body, sexual reproduction, maybe oviparous viviparous species depending upon their habitat.

Complete answer:
Crocodilians are placed along with the birds as Archosaurs in the cladistic taxonomy. Archosaurs are a group that includes the extinct dinosaurs and pterosaurs. The fossil of Archosaurs shows that the crocodiles have common ancestors and these fossils were found around 80 to 100 million years ago.
Snakes are elongated and legless carnivorous reptiles. Their body is covered with scales. They are cold-blooded animals and are said to be ectothermic in nature as they depend upon various physical factors to maintain their body temperature. They may lay eggs or may even give birth to their young ones. They are found to be living in small and narrow holes and feed upon various rodents.
Tuataras are found only on islands of New Zealand and are commonly called “Tuatara”. Although tuataras look like lizards, they lack external ears which distinguish them from the other.
Sphenodon punctatus and Sphenodon guntheri are the only two living species that belong to this group of reptiles that arose in the early Mesozoic era.
Turtles are the reptiles which are characterized by a special Bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs. The shells are their shield and act as their defence mechanism. They are found in the freshwater habitat and called the sea-dwelling testudines as they may live in seas as well.

So, the correct answer is ‘Snakes’.

Note:
Crocodiles and snakes are the oldest in comparison to the turtle who are said to be the oldest reptile group. The 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 can bite or chew the food instead they simply swallow the food and also smell it with the help of their tongue.