Question

Imagine that a zoo in Sri Lanka has started an elephant-breeding program. Zookeepers have introduced an Indian and Sri Lankan elephant into the same enclosure. What will be the result of this mating?

a. These elephants will produce infertile offspring (i.e., like a mule).
b. These elephants will fail to produce fertile offspring.
c. This mating will demonstrate that these elephants are members of the same species and will produce fertile offspring.
d. This mating will demonstrate that these elephants are not members of the same species.
e. This mating will demonstrate that these elephants are reproductively isolated from each other.

Answer 1

Answer: c. This mating will demonstrate that these elephants are members of the same species and will produce fertile offspring.

Explanation:

A species is a group of organisms capable of interbreeding to produce viable offsprings. The Sri Lankan Elephant and the Indian Elephant are the same species so, they will produce fertile offsprings. Because they are from different geographical location does not mean they won't mate and produce fertile offsprings.