Question

Which species are most closely related?(1 point)
Responses

Stick insect and goldfish
Stick insect and goldfish

Goldfish and kingsnake
Goldfish and kingsnake

Dog and kingsnake
Dog and kingsnake

Kingsnake and stick insect

Answer 1

To determine which species are most closely related, we need to consider their evolutionary lineage and classification.

Among the options given:

- **Stick insect and goldfish** are from very different classes: Insects (Hexapoda) and Fish (Osteichthyes).
- **Goldfish and kingsnake** belong to different classes as well: Fish and Reptiles.
- **Dog and kingsnake** are also from different classes: Mammals (Mammalia) and Reptiles.
- **Kingsnake and stick insect** are both part of the animal kingdom but belong to different classes, as one is a reptile and the other an insect.

Based on these classifications, none of the pairs listed are particularly close. However, among these options, the kingsnake may be considered more closely related to dogs compared to the others. Both dogs and kingsnakes are part of the Animalia kingdom but belong to different classes (Mammalia for dogs and Reptilia for kingsnakes).

If I had to choose the least distantly related according to the options, it would be **goldfish and kingsnake**, as both are vertebrates, albeit from different groups (fish and reptiles).

So, the best choice would be: **Goldfish and kingsnake**.