As deuterostomes, chordates possess pharyngeal slits at some stage of development.Which of the following chordates presents an example of why caution is needed when phylogenetic relationships are assessed using only adult structures?

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Tunicates, which are adult chordates, lack many of the defining characteristics of chordates, such as a backbone and a centralized nervous system. However, their larval stage does possess pharyngeal slits, making them an important example of why relying solely on adult structures can lead to misleading phylogenetic relationships.

As Deuterostomes, Chordates Possess Pharyngeal Slits at Some Stage of Development.Which