Question

examine the phylogenetic tree showing the evolutionary relationship of various mammals.
past → present time
which statement most accurately explains the relationship between the african elephant and the other animals?
○ it is more closely related to the west indian manatee than it is to the west african manatee.
○ it is more closely related to the mammoth than it is to the dugong.
○ it is a distant ancestor of a cross between the mammoth and the mastodon.
○ it is not related to the stellers sea cow or to the brazilian manatee.

Explanation:

• In a phylogenetic tree, the closer the branches, the more closely related the species.
• African elephant and Mammoth share a more recent common branch compared to African elephant and Dugong.
• For the first option, African elephant is not more closely related to West Indian manatee than West African manatee as they are in different major branches.
• The third option is incorrect as it's about evolutionary relationship, not being an ancestor of a cross.
• The fourth option is wrong as all are related through the phylogenetic tree (common ancestry at the base).

Answer:

It is more closely related to the Mammoth than it is to the Dugong.