What defining feature links the water vole to Phylum Chordata?

Answer

Presence of a notochord at some developmental stage

Placement within Phylum Chordata is determined by the presence of specific anatomical characteristics evident at least during some point in the organism's life cycle. The primary defining feature is the notochord, a flexible rod providing skeletal support. Chordates also possess a dorsal hollow nerve cord, pharyngeal slits, and a post-anal tail. For a mature mammal like the water vole, these chordate characteristics, such as the notochord and pharyngeal slits, are typically highly modified or only visible during the embryonic stages of development. However, their presence, even transiently, places the vole firmly within this phylum, signifying the internal skeletal support structure associated with vertebrates.

What defining feature links the water vole to Phylum Chordata?

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taxonomyanimalmammalclassificationVole