Yes, that is an interesting way of looking at it. I do a similar thing when discussing dinosaur history. For example, with the two "similar looking" dinosaurs, Allosaurus and T-Rex. Allosaurus died out about 150 million years ago, while T-rex, 65 mya, separation of around 85 million years. Meanwhile, T-Rex and humans are separated by about 63 million years.
The realization came to me one day while visiting the American Museum of Natural History here in New York City, where the two are on display right next to each other.
Allosaurus
T-Rex (note Allosaurus directly behind it, on the same side as the TR, across from the humongous "Brontosaurus",
now called Apatosaurus)