Question

significance of larval forms of protochordates in phylogenetic studies of chordates . for 10 marks

Answer 1

Answer:

Hemichordates are classically known to develop in two ways, both directly and indirectly.The indirect developmental strategy includes an extended pelagic plankotrophic tornaria larval stage, which means that this hemichordate exists in a larval stage that feeds on plankton before turning into an adult worm

Answer 2

Answer:

Tunicate species are key to understanding chordate origins, as they have tadpole larvae with a chordate body plan. However, molecular phylogenies show only weak support for the Tunicata as the sister-group to the rest of the chordates, suggesting that they are highly divergent from the Cephalochordata and Vertebrata.

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