What statement confirms *S. varius* is evolutionarily closer to a Costa Rican toucan than a flycatcher?
Answer
Its placement alongside toucans and barbets in the Order Piciformes
Evolutionary closeness in taxonomy is reflected by placement in narrower classification ranks. While all birds are in Class Aves, the Order Piciformes groups the sapsucker with distinct birds like toucans and barbets, suggesting a deeper shared ancestry with them than with other birds that might share superficial tree-foraging behaviors, such as creepers or nuthatches. The shared characteristics defining Piciformes—such as zygodactylous feet—represent evolutionary markers that occurred earlier and link the sapsucker to the toucan lineage more closely than to birds whose most recent common ancestor predates the evolutionary split that established Piciformes.
Related Questions
What foot structure characterizes the Order Piciformes, including toucans and barbets?Which species are included in the Genus *Sphyrapicus* besides *S. varius*?What does the specific name *varius* denote for *Sphyrapicus varius*?What fundamental requirement places *Sphyrapicus varius* in the Kingdom Animalia?What highly specialized diet behavior distinguishes *S. varius* within the Family Picidae structure?What statement confirms *S. varius* is evolutionarily closer to a Costa Rican toucan than a flycatcher?What specific structural feature is shared among all members of Phylum Chordata, including the sapsucker?What significance did Baird assign to *Sphyrapicus varius* when erecting the genus *Sphyrapicus* in 1858?What avian features specifically place the sapsucker within Class Aves?What subtle, consistent difference do taxonomists use to delineate the three species within the Genus *Sphyrapicus*?