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Multiple Choice
Which of the following chordates is most likely to look the least like other chordates?
A
Shark
B
Frog
C
Lancelet
D
Tunicate
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Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the characteristics of chordates: Chordates are animals that possess, at some stage of their life cycle, a notochord, a dorsal nerve cord, pharyngeal slits, and a post-anal tail.
Identify the unique features of tunicates: Tunicates, also known as sea squirts, are marine animals that belong to the subphylum Urochordata. They exhibit chordate features only during their larval stage.
Compare tunicates to other chordates: Unlike sharks, frogs, and lancelets, tunicates undergo a significant transformation from their larval to adult stage, losing many chordate features.
Recognize the adult form of tunicates: In their adult form, tunicates are sessile and have a sac-like body structure, which is quite different from the typical vertebrate appearance of other chordates.
Conclude why tunicates look the least like other chordates: Due to their unique lifecycle and adult morphology, tunicates are the chordates that look the least like other members of the phylum.