What embryonic structure confirms the placement of the Western Green Mamba within Phylum Chordata?
Answer
The presence of a notochord at some developmental stage
Placement within the Phylum Chordata is determined by the presence of four key characteristics at some point during the organism's life cycle: a notochord, a dorsal hollow nerve cord, pharyngeal slits, and a post-anal tail. For snakes like the Western Green Mamba, while the adult form may lack some of these externally, their embryonic development definitively reveals these chordate traits. The notochord, a flexible rod providing skeletal support, is a foundational feature shared across vertebrates, confirming its lineage within Chordata alongside birds and mammals.
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