Question

Choose the correct statement with respect to pharyngeal gill slits.

• A. Pharyngeal gill slits are found in chordates.
• B. Fish possess gills in pharyngeal gill slits.
• C. Pharyngeal gill slits are found in non-chordates.
• D. Both A and B

Answer 1

The correct option is D Both A and B

Chordates are characterized by the presence of a notochord, paired pharyngeal gill slits, a dorsal hollow nerve cord, and a post-anal tail. Pharyngeal gill slits refer to paired openings that lead from the pharynx to the outside. They perform the function of the passage of water from the pharynx to the outside, thus bathing the gills for respiration.

In all the chordates at some stage of their life history, a series of paired gill slits perforate through the pharyngeal wall of the gut behind the mouth. In higher vertebrates like mammals and reptiles, birds disappear or get modified into the form of pulmonary respiration.

Fish possess gills in pharyngeal gill slits.