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Multiple Choice
Which of the following species is most closely related to *Felis rufus*?
A
*Panthera leo*
B
*Ursus arctos*
C
*Felis catus*
D
*Canis lupus*
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the concept of phylogenetic relationships. Organisms are classified based on shared evolutionary traits and genetic similarities. Species within the same genus are typically more closely related than those in different genera.
Step 2: Identify the genus of *Felis rufus*. The genus is 'Felis', which includes species that are small cats, such as domestic cats and wildcats.
Step 3: Compare the genus of each option provided. *Panthera leo* (lion) belongs to the genus 'Panthera', *Ursus arctos* (brown bear) belongs to the genus 'Ursus', *Canis lupus* (wolf) belongs to the genus 'Canis', and *Felis catus* (domestic cat) belongs to the genus 'Felis'.
Step 4: Recognize that species within the same genus (*Felis*) share more recent common ancestors and are more closely related than species in different genera.
Step 5: Conclude that *Felis catus* is the species most closely related to *Felis rufus* because they both belong to the same genus, 'Felis'.