Question

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

Dog and kingsnake
Dog and kingsnake

Kingsnake and stick insect
Kingsnake and stick insect

Stick insect and goldfish
Stick insect and goldfish

Goldfish and kingsnake

Answer 1

To determine which species are most closely related, it’s important to consider their evolutionary lineage and classification.

1. **Dog and kingsnake** - Dogs are mammals (class Mammalia), while kingsnakes are reptiles (class Reptilia). They are not closely related, but both belong to the broader clade of amniotes.

2. **Kingsnake and stick insect** - Kingsnakes are reptiles, while stick insects are invertebrates (order Phasmatodea). They diverged quite early in the evolutionary tree.

3. **Stick insect and goldfish** - Stick insects are invertebrates, whereas goldfish are bony fish (class Actinopterygii). They also diverged early in evolution.

4. **Goldfish and kingsnake** - Goldfish (Actinopterygii) and kingsnakes (Reptilia) are both vertebrates, but they are from different classes and are still fairly distantly related.

Among the options provided, although none are very closely related, the closest relationship in terms of taxonomy is between the **dog and kingsnake**, both of which are vertebrates.

Thus, the best answer here is **Dog and kingsnake.**