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Multiple Choice
How could a biologist distinguish an acoel flatworm from a free-living platyhelminth?
A
Acoel flatworms have a segmented body, whereas free-living platyhelminths are unsegmented.
B
Acoel flatworms have a complete digestive tract, but free-living platyhelminths do not.
C
Acoel flatworms possess a coelom, while free-living platyhelminths are acoelomate.
D
Acoel flatworms lack a true gut cavity, while free-living platyhelminths possess a branched gastrovascular cavity.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the key anatomical differences between acoel flatworms and free-living platyhelminths. Acoel flatworms lack a true gut cavity, meaning they do not have a specialized structure for digestion. Free-living platyhelminths, on the other hand, possess a branched gastrovascular cavity, which serves as their digestive system.
Step 2: Recognize that the presence or absence of a gut cavity is a defining characteristic. Acoel flatworms rely on intracellular digestion, where food is digested within individual cells, while free-living platyhelminths use their branched gastrovascular cavity for extracellular digestion.
Step 3: Eliminate the incorrect options based on anatomical features. For example, acoel flatworms are unsegmented, just like free-living platyhelminths, so segmentation is not a distinguishing factor. Similarly, neither group has a coelom, as both are acoelomate organisms.
Step 4: Note that acoel flatworms do not have a complete digestive tract. Instead, they absorb nutrients directly into their cells, whereas free-living platyhelminths use their branched gastrovascular cavity to distribute nutrients throughout their body.
Step 5: Conclude that the correct distinguishing feature is the lack of a true gut cavity in acoel flatworms compared to the branched gastrovascular cavity in free-living platyhelminths. This difference is critical for identifying and classifying these organisms.