Answer :
The most closely related species according to the dichotomous key are A. C. lupus and C. latrans.
How are the species related?
Canis lupus and Canis latrans, commonly known as the gray wolf and coyote respectively, are both members of the Canidae family, placing them in the same genus Canis. They share several classification designations such as belonging to the same genus and family.
This suggests that they are more closely related to each other compared to the other options listed in the key. Felis catus (domestic cat) and Canis lupus also share the same family (Felidae) with Canis lupus but they belong to different genera, making them less closely related.
N. cinerea (Eastern gray squirrel) and P. leo (lion) belong to different families (Sciuridae and Felidae respectively) and thus are less closely related to each other compared to Canis lupus and Canis latrans.
