Table 2.

Coding categories for explanations from Study 1.

Explanation type	Definition	Examples
Ecological	Refers to relationships between species, which could include habitat, food chain, or other biological needs	“The petrel eats the fish” “They can both live in the same place” “Snail can climb on the tree” “The bird can sit on top of the mangrove branches”
Taxonomic	Refers to category membership of the species	“Because they’re both trees” “Both insects” “They’re both plants” “Both types of birds” “Both types of lizards”
Utility	Refers to any utility function the species could provide for human use	“People eat both of them” “We weave baskets and mats” “Some people have pigs and dogs as pets” “Both are fruit and can be food” “Found where the chiefs and the fathers go”
Morphological	Refers to perceptual features of the species	“They have big leaves” “Both have feathers and look similar” “The tree fern is long and the palm is short” “Both have rough teeth” “They both have antennae”
Physiological	Refers to any behavioral similarities made possible the organism’s physiology	“They both fly” “They both swim”
Non-explanatory	Any response which does not clearly indicate how the two species relate	“I don’t know” “They’re the same”