What shared structural trait unifies all members of the Phylum Chordata?
Answer
Sharing a notochord, dorsal hollow nerve cord, pharyngeal slits, and post-anal tail during life stages.
The classification into the Phylum Chordata is based on specific shared developmental features that manifest at some point during an organism's life cycle. These fundamental traits include the presence of a notochord, which provides axial support; a dorsal hollow nerve cord running along the back; pharyngeal slits in the throat region; and a post-anal tail extending beyond the anus. Even though these structures may be heavily modified or reduced in the adult white-tailed deer, their presence during embryonic development solidifies this placement.
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