Which of the following are thought to be most closely related to humans?

ants

snails

sea stars

earthworms

jellies

The correct answer is: sea stars

All animals listed above are invertebrates. One of the characteristic of invertebrates are that they are protostomes with the exception of Echinodermata (sea stars). The difference between protostomes and deuterostomes is in their embryonic development (orgin of mouth and anus).

In protostomes the mouth forms first: the oral end of the animal develops from the first developmental opening. On the other hand in deuterostomes the first opening (the blastopore) becomes the anus, and the oral end of the develops from the second opening.

Humans are also deuterostomes.