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That does not matter. We want to measure closeness, not superficial similarity. Which species have the most recent common ancestor. A hyrax is closer to an ele
by swebs 8y ago
That does not matter. We want to measure closeness, not superficial similarity. Which species have the most recent common ancestor.
A hyrax is closer to an elephant. It's not even a rodent. Dolphins and whales aren't fish either, even though they live under water and have fins.
- stan_rogers 8y agoWell, in a monophylitic sense, dolphins and whales are fish... as are kangaroos and orangutans. Sarcopterygii, perhaps, but if we're not fish on that basis, then neither are coelacanths and lungfish.
- thaumasiotes 8y agoIf you want to measure that way, then the idea of one modern breed being closer to a common ancestor than another modern breed is is total nonsense; by definition, they're all equally close.