Question

Which of the following organisms are the LEAST related?

(1 point)
Responses

Mountain Lion and Tiger
Mountain Lion and Tiger

Polar Bear and Mountain Lion
Polar Bear and Mountain Lion

Zebra and Tiger
Zebra and Tiger

Polar Bear and tiger

Answer 1

To determine which organisms are the least related, we can look at their taxonomic classifications and evolutionary relationships.

1. **Mountain Lion (Puma concolor)** and **Tiger (Panthera tigris)**: Both are members of the family Felidae (cats), which makes them relatively closely related.

2. **Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus)** and **Mountain Lion (Puma concolor)**: These two belong to different families (Ursidae for bears and Felidae for cats) but they are still mammals, so they share some common ancestry.

3. **Zebra (Equus zebra)** and **Tiger (Panthera tigris)**: These belong to entirely different families (Equidae for zebras and Felidae for tigers) and are quite distant in terms of evolutionary relationships since they are from different orders (Perissodactyla for zebras and Carnivora for tigers).

4. **Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus)** and **Tiger (Panthera tigris)**: Again, these represent different families (Ursidae and Felidae, respectively) but they are both within the order Carnivora, providing some level of relatedness.

Based on this analysis, the **Zebra and Tiger** are the least related due to their belonging to different families and orders.