Question

Currently, two extant elephant species (X and Y) are placed in the genus Loxodonta, and a third species (Z) is placed in the genus Elephas. Thus, which statement should be true?
Species X and Y are not related to species Z.
A) Species X and Y share a greater number of homologies with each other than either does with species Z.
B) Species X and Y share a common ancestor that is still extant (in other words, not yet extinct).
C) Species X and Y are the result of artificial selection from an ancestral species Z.
D) Species X, Y, and Z share a common ancestor, but nothing more can be claimed than this

Answer 1

Answer:

A. Species X and Y share a greater number of homologies with each other than either does with species Z.

Explanation:

In taxonomy,  living organisms are placed into groups according to their similarities.

Genus is a classification group above of species. It consists of species that are closely related.

For the species X and Y to be placed in the same genus, they must be sharing a greater number of similarities or homologies compared to species Z.

Species Z does not have greater similarity with either Species X or species Y