What anatomical feature places the Spotted Salamander within the Phylum *Chordata*?
Answer
Possession of a notochord at some point in its life cycle
Membership in the Phylum Chordata signifies that the organism develops a notochord at some stage during its development, even if it is later replaced by a vertebral column.
Related Questions
What is the approximate English translation for the genus name *Ambystoma*?What anatomical feature places the Spotted Salamander within the Phylum *Chordata*?What distinguishes the Order *Caudata* from other amphibian orders like *Anura*?What is the primary behavior that gives the family *Ambystomatidae* the common name 'mole salamanders'?How does *A. maculatum*'s respiration differ fundamentally from the Plethodontidae family?What is the typical arrangement of the bright yellow markings on an adult Spotted Salamander?What specific requirement dictates where female Spotted Salamanders deposit their egg masses?What causes the slight green hue sometimes observed in the gelatinous egg masses?What major biological checkpoint occurs during the transition from aquatic larva to terrestrial adult?How does the preferred habitat of *A. maculatum* contrast ecologically with the Tiger Salamander (*Ambystoma tigrinum*) where their ranges overlap?