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Multiple Choice
Which of the following best describes the taxonomic relationship between bears and dogs?
A
Bears are more closely related to cats than to dogs.
B
Both belong to the same genus.
C
Both belong to the order Carnivora but are in different families.
D
Bears and dogs are in entirely different classes.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the concept of taxonomy, which is the classification of organisms into hierarchical groups based on shared characteristics. The main taxonomic ranks are domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species.
Step 2: Identify the taxonomic rank mentioned in the problem. The question refers to the order Carnivora, which is a rank within the class Mammalia.
Step 3: Recognize that both bears and dogs belong to the order Carnivora, meaning they share certain traits such as being primarily carnivorous and having specialized teeth for eating meat.
Step 4: Note that within the order Carnivora, bears belong to the family Ursidae, while dogs belong to the family Canidae. This indicates that they are in different families but share the same order.
Step 5: Eliminate incorrect options by understanding that bears are not more closely related to cats than to dogs, they do not belong to the same genus, and they are not in entirely different classes. The correct description is that both belong to the order Carnivora but are in different families.