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

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Indian and Sri Lankan elephants are considered to be the same species, Elephas maximus. These elephants can mate and produce fertile offspring, which have been observed in both the wild and captivity. Therefore, introducing an Indian and Sri Lankan elephant into the same enclosure can result in the production of viable, fertile offspring, demonstrating that they are not reproductively isolated and are members of the same species.

Imagine That a Zoo in Sri Lanka Has Started an Elephant-Breeding