Final answer:
Organisms that are missing some species that diverged from them in terms of phylogeny are not each other's closest relatives. Phylogenetic trees show the evolutionary relationships between different species, but appearances can be misleading in determining these relationships.
Step-by-step explanation:
Organisms that are missing some species that diverged from them in terms of phylogeny are not each other's closest relatives.
Phylogenetic trees show the evolutionary relationships between different species. However, these trees are hypotheses and can be modified as new data becomes available. Sometimes, organisms may appear closely related on a phylogenetic tree but may not actually be closely related due to convergent evolution or genetic changes causing major morphological differences.
For example, chimpanzees and humans are very similar genetically, sharing 99 percent of their genes. However, they show considerable anatomical differences, illustrating that appearances can be misleading in determining evolutionary relationships.