What key feature characterizes animals placed within the Phylum Chordata, like the Whippet?
Answer
Possessing a notochord at some developmental stage
Membership in the Phylum Chordata requires the presence, at some point during the organism's development, of a notochord. The notochord serves as a flexible rod that provides essential skeletal support throughout development. Beyond this defining feature, chordates also possess a dorsal nerve cord, pharyngeal slits, and a post-anal tail at some stage. The Whippet, as a dog and therefore a vertebrate, fits securely within this major branch of the animal kingdom.
Related Questions
To which Kingdom does the elegant Whippet belong according to scientific classification?What key feature characterizes animals placed within the Phylum Chordata, like the Whippet?What characteristic specifically defines the Class Mammalia classification for the Whippet?What ancestral characteristic defines the Order Carnivora shared by the Whippet?Which animals are included in the Family Canidae, which shares traits with the Whippet?What is the specific subspecies designation for the domestic dog that encompasses the Whippet?Which functional group does the American Kennel Club (AKC) officially assign the Whippet into?What specific medical concern stems from the Whippet's low body fat due to specialized selection?What necessity prompted Victorian English miners to intentionally select and breed smaller Greyhounds?Which breed was cross-bred into early Whippets, leading to a temporary rough-coated variety?What top speed, linked to its streamlined sighthound design, is attributed to the Whippet?