Question

Which statement best describes the continued existence of the giraffe and the okapi?

A. The two species will likely interbreed with each other, resulting in young with characteristics of both species
B. The two species will likely interbreed and develop a new species with characteristics of their common ancestor.
C. The two species are no longer able to interbreed and both will continue to exist and reproduce in their separate environments.
D. The two species will be in competition for resources with each other in a single environment, leading to the extinction of one of the species.

Answer 1

The giraffe and the okapi are no longer able to interbreed and will continue to exist and reproduce separately in their environments.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best statement describing the continued existence of the giraffe and the okapi is that the two species are no longer able to interbreed and both will continue to exist and reproduce in their separate environments (Option C). Giraffes and okapis are closely related species, but they have diverged enough that they cannot produce viable offspring together. Therefore, they will continue to exist as separate species and reproduce within their own populations.

The correct answer is C, indicating that giraffes and okapis are separate species that cannot interbreed and will continue to reproduce in their own environments without creating hybrids.

The statement that best describes the continued existence of the giraffe and the okapi is C: The two species are no longer able to interbreed and both will continue to exist and reproduce in their separate environments. This reflects the current understanding of species divergence where reproductive barriers prevent the interbreeding of different species, leading to each continuing to live and evolve within their own ecological niches. Concepts such as hybrid zones and reproductive barriers are relevant here, but given that giraffes and okapis have significantly different habitats and physical characteristics, natural interbreeding is extremely unlikely, and thus, the notion of species fusion is not applicable in this scenario.