Molecular data suggests the Pinnipedia parvorder descended from an ancestor related to which modern land mammal group?
Answer
Modern bears
The evolutionary journey of marine mammals within the Pinnipedia clade, which encompasses seals, sea lions, and walruses, is complex. Current molecular genetic analyses provide evidence suggesting that the shared ancestor of all these fin-footed marine mammals was evolutionarily related to groups that eventually gave rise to modern bears. This connection highlights the terrestrial origins of these specialized aquatic creatures, despite their profound adaptations to the marine environment.
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