Molecular evidence suggests New World vultures are most closely related to which group?
Answer
Storks
Molecular studies have provided clarity regarding the genetic relationships of these birds, revealing that New World vultures are not closely related to the raptor lineages like hawks, eagles, or kites. Instead, the genetic data points toward a relationship with storks. This finding reinforces the conclusion that the similarities between New World and Old World vultures are not indicative of a shared immediate ancestor, but rather a result of convergent evolution where unrelated species adopted similar roles.
#Videos
Vulture Evolution in Cartoons & Movies (2018) - YouTube
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