What characteristic must all members of the Phylum Chordata possess at some developmental stage?
Answer
A notochord
The Phylum Chordata encompasses a broad range of animals, including humans and all vertebrates, based on the presence of a specific embryonic structure. The defining feature for placement in this phylum is the presence of a notochord at some stage of development, even if it is later replaced by a vertebral column. This classification is quite high in the hierarchy, indicating a shared, foundational evolutionary trait that predates specialized features like scales or venom apparatus.
Related Questions
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