What structure must an organism possess during some life cycle stage to qualify for Phylum Chordata?
Answer
A notochord
Classification within the Phylum Chordata requires the presence of four key features at some point during the organism's life cycle: a notochord, a dorsal hollow nerve cord, pharyngeal slits, and a post-anal tail. The notochord serves as a flexible, rod-like structure providing skeletal support. Although the adult Western Blind Snake exhibits highly specialized vertebrate modifications, these fundamental chordate characteristics are present during its embryonic development, confirming its placement in this phylum alongside other vertebrates.
Related Questions
What is the current accepted genus name for the Western Blind Snake, *humilis*?What key feature separates snakes in the Family Leptotyphlopidae from other snakes?What meaning is associated with the specific epithet *humilis* used for *Rena humilis*?What structure must an organism possess during some life cycle stage to qualify for Phylum Chordata?Besides overlapping keratinous scales, what structural characteristic defines the Order Squamata?What primarily prompted the change in genus classification from *Leptotyphlops* to *Rena*?What common ecological role explains the reduced eyes and tapered snout of *Rena humilis*?In the Linnaean hierarchy, where is *Rena humilis* placed relative to turtles and crocodilians?What historical name synonym for the Western Blind Snake is found in older scientific literature?Which two key features, besides being multicellular and eukaryotic, define placement in Kingdom Animalia?