The scientific name for wood chuck is Marmota monax and the scientific name for the long tailed marmot is Marmota caudata. Which of the following statement describes the taxonomic relationship between the woodchuck and the long tailed marmot?

Options

A. They belong to different phyla
B. They belong to the same genus
C. They belong to the same species
D. They belong to different families

Answer

To determine the taxonomic relationship between the woodchuck (Marmota monax) and the long-tailed marmot (Marmota caudata), we can analyze their scientific names and the classification system.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Scientific Names**: Scientific names are composed of two parts: the genus name and the species name. The genus name is always capitalized, while the species name is not.

2. **Identifying the Genus**: Both the woodchuck and the long-tailed marmot belong to the genus "Marmota". This indicates that they are closely related and belong to the same group of organisms.

3. **Comparing Species Names**: The species names are different: "monax" for the woodchuck and "caudata" for the long-tailed marmot. This indicates that they are different species within the same genus.

4. **Taxonomic Hierarchy**: In biological classification, the hierarchy goes from broad to specific: Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species. Since both animals share the same genus, they are more closely related to each other than to animals in different genera.

5. **Conclusion**: The woodchuck and the long-tailed marmot are different species within the same genus (Marmota). This means they share a common ancestor and have similar characteristics, but they are distinct species.

### Final Statement:
The taxonomic relationship between the woodchuck (Marmota monax) and the long-tailed marmot (Marmota caudata) is that they are different species within the same genus, indicating that they are closely related.

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