An owl and a bat share the same kingdom and phylum; an owl and a robin share the same kingdom, phylum, and class. which of the following statements is correct? a. the owl and the bat have more characteristics in common. b. the owl and the robin have more characteristics in common. c. all three animals share the same characteristics. d. these three animals have no characteristics in common.

The correct answer is - b. The owl and the robin have more characteristics in common.

All three animals are in fact connected, but the connections are very different. While the owl and the robin are closely related, their connection with the bat can be traced few hundred million years ago. The owl and the robin are both birds, they share common ancestors in the early transitional species of bird-like dinosaurs, and before that their ancestors were part of the dinosaurs. The bat on the other hand, is a mammal, and has evolved from the primitive shrew like mammals that got an open space after the dinosaurs disappeared, and while living along side them were living in their shadow. So the bat's connection to the owl and the robin is going much further into the geologic past, before the diversification of the species to mammals and reptiles.