NEET BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Thus presence of pharyngeal gill slits is the characteristic feature of all chordates. So, the correct answer is “Option B”. Note: Apart from the presence of notochord and paired pharyngeal gill slits, all chordates have a dorsal hollow nerve cord and a post anal tail in some stage of their life span.

Detailed explanation-2: -Pharyngeal arches, pouches, and clefts are, at some stage of life, found in all chordates.

Detailed explanation-3: -The characteristic features of the phylum Chordata include the presence of a notochord and paired pharyngeal gill slits.

Detailed explanation-4: -In primitive chordates and fish, the pharyngeal slits function in respiration and feeding: water that comes in the mouth leaves through the slits. Organisms can filter this water for food and in fish gills became associated with these slits.

Detailed explanation-5: -All chordates are deuterostomes possessing a notochord at some stage of their life cycle.