Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which feature is NOT considered a shared derived characteristic of chordates?
Which feature is NOT considered a shared derived characteristic of chordates?
Which group is considered the closest sister group to chordates?
Which group is considered the closest sister group to chordates?
What is the function of the endostyle in chordates?
What is the function of the endostyle in chordates?
Which of these features is an ancestral characteristic of deuterostomes?
Which of these features is an ancestral characteristic of deuterostomes?
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In lancelets, the notochord serves which primary function?
In lancelets, the notochord serves which primary function?
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Which of the following features is NOT a synapomorphy for all chordates?
Which of the following features is NOT a synapomorphy for all chordates?
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What structural role does the neural tube perform in chordates?
What structural role does the neural tube perform in chordates?
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Which of the following groups includes a feature that extends beyond the nerve cord?
Which of the following groups includes a feature that extends beyond the nerve cord?
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Which of the following is true regarding pharyngeal slits in chordates?
Which of the following is true regarding pharyngeal slits in chordates?
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In the context of chordate anatomy, myomeres are primarily responsible for what?
In the context of chordate anatomy, myomeres are primarily responsible for what?
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Study Notes
Vertebrate Classification
- Vertebrates are chordates, along with tunicates and lancelets.
- Chordates are deuterostomes, alongside hemichordates and echinoderms.
- Hemichordates were once considered the closest relatives of chordates.
- Both chordates and hemichordates share a pharynx with pharyngeal slits.
- Pharyngeal slits are now seen as an ancestral feature of deuterostomes.
Chordate Characteristics
- All chordates share four key derived features (synapomorphies):
- Notochord: A stiffening rod for muscle attachment.
- Neural tube: A dorsal hollow nerve cord coordinating muscle activities.
- Post-anal tail: Provides propulsion from myomeres (segmented muscles).
- Endostyle: A ciliated, glandular groove in the pharynx aiding in filter feeding and iodine uptake.
Chordate Examples
- Cephalochordata (Lancelets)
- Urochordata (Tunicates)
- Vertebrata
- Cyclostomata
- Gnathostomata
Lancelet Anatomy (Key Features)
- Notochord: A stiffening rod extending beyond the nerve cord.
- Neural tube: A dorsal hollow nerve cord.
- Post-anal tail: Segmented muscles (myomeres) for propulsion.
- Endostyle: A ciliated, glandular groove on the pharynx floor.
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Description
Explore the classification of vertebrates and their characteristics in this quiz. Learn about the key features that define chordates, including the notochord, neural tube, post-anal tail, and endostyle. Test your knowledge on various examples and anatomical traits of lancelets.
