Asked by Arpit Bapna on Jul 22, 2024

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Describe the shared derived characteristics that support grouping the hemichordates, chordates, and echinoderms together as deuterostomes.

Hemichordates

A group of marine animals closely related to chordates, characterized by having a body divided into three parts: a proboscis, a collar, and a trunk.

Deuterostomes

A group of animals characterized by the development of the mouth from an opening other than the blastopore during embryonic development.

Derived Characteristics

Traits that are present in an organism but were absent in the last common ancestor of the group to which the organism belongs.

  • Acquire knowledge of the distinctive characteristics among leading vertebrate classes.
  • Recapitulate the evolutionary affiliations of tetrapods, underscoring their unique characteristics.
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JB
Jeremy BauerJul 24, 2024
Final Answer :
Shared derived characteristics that support grouping the hemichordates, chordates, and echinoderms together as deuterostomes are similarities in patterns of development as illustrated by radial, indeterminate cleavage and blastopore development into an anus, not mouth.
Shared derived anatomical characteristics include endoskeletons and true coeloms.