Biology · Science General

Diversity in Living Organisms

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The diversity in living organisms deals with the classification of life forms into various kingdoms and phyla. This topic covers specific traits of bacteria, animal body cavities, and structural adaptations for survival. These fundamentals are crucial for biology sections in medical entrance and state board exams.

Animal phyla characteristicsBacteria and flagellaBiological adaptationsKingdom Animalia classificationBody cavity typesExtinct organism subphylaJawless animals identification

Diversity in Living Organisms Questions

Multiple choice biology diversity in living world characteristics of vertebrates classification of vertebrata classifications of chordata

The type of tail seen in Cyclostomata is 

  1. Isocercal.

  2. Homocercal.

  3. Heterocercal.

  4. Protocercal.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Cyclostomata is a group of chordates comprising of living jawless fishes, the lampreys, and hagfishes. Their tail is protocercal in cyclostomes, having a caudal fin extending around the end of the vertebral column. The protocercal tail is formed by the division of tail into two equal lobes supported by fins.

Hence, option D is correct.

Multiple choice biology diversity in living world characteristics of vertebrates classification of vertebrata classifications of chordata

The larva of cyclostomates is known as 

  1. Lamprey

  2. Amphioxus

  3. Ascridian

  4. Ammocoete
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Cyclostomata is a group of chordates that comprises the living jawless fishes, the lampreys, and hagfishes. They lay numerous eggs, about 1mm in diameter and lodge in the gravel around the nest. The egg hatches into an ammocoete larva, which is a blind, worm-like animal that burrows in the slit.

So, the correct answer is option D.

Multiple choice biology diversity in living world characteristics of vertebrates classification of vertebrata classifications of chordata

In which one of the following jaws are absent?

  1. Petromyzon

  2. Hagfish

  3. Hippocampus

  4. Both A and B
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Petromyzon is the sea lamprey, which lacks bony teeth and jaws. Hagfish is eel-shaped, slime-producing marine fish. Along with lampreys, they are jawless and are living fossils.

So, the correct answer is option D.

Multiple choice biology diversity in living world characteristics of vertebrates classification of vertebrata classifications of chordata

The lamprey is included in same taxonomic class as 

  1. Anolis

  2. Myxine

  3. Ambystoma

  4. Neoceratodus

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Lamprey and hagfish or Petromyzon and Myxine are both agnathans as they are jawless fishes. They are sometimes considered as the earliest vertebrates. They also lack paired fins or stomach. They have a pineal eye. The adults and larvae usually have a notochord.

So, the correct answer is 'Myxine '.

Multiple choice biology diversity in living world characteristics of vertebrates classification of vertebrata classifications of chordata

Earliest jawed vertebrates were

  1. Ostracoderms

  2. Placoderms

  3. Crossopterygians

  4. Elasmobranchs
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Vertebrates are the subphylum of a Chordata. Placoderms were among the first jawed fish. The jaws are considered to evolve from the gill arches. Placoderms are the extinct class of armoured prehistoric fishes, known from fossils, which lived from the Silurian to the end of the Devonian period. Their head and thorax were covered by articulated armoured plates and the rest of the body was scaled or naked.

So, the correct answer is option B.

Multiple choice biology diversity in living world characteristics of vertebrates classification of vertebrata classifications of chordata

Lamprey (Petromyzon) is included in 

  1. Gnathostomata.

  2. Cyclostomata.

  3. Chondrichthyes.

  4. Osteichthyes.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
Lampreys are one of the jawless fishes of the order Petromyzontiformes. Petromyzon is the scientific name of the sea lamprey. Chordates are characterized by the presence of notochord. Cyclostomata is a type of Chordate, that comprises the living jawless fishes, like the lampreys and hagfishes. It is long and slender snake-like organism. This organism is not called as the true fish. The organism lacks the paired fins. The organism has well developed dorsal and ventral fin folds. These fin folds help in swimming and locomotion. The adult stage is characterized by a toothed, funnel-like sucking mouth.
Thus, the correct answer is option B.
Multiple choice biology diversity in living world characteristics of vertebrates classification of vertebrata classifications of chordata

Which strucutres is seen cyclostomes?

  1. Pineal eye

  2. Jaws

  3. Pectoral fin

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

In cyclostomes, the pineal gland is a photoreceptor. The endocrine nature of the gland's function has not been definitely established. As it's activity diminishes with age, the gland turns into rudimentary organ containing mineral deposits.

So, the correct answer is option A.

Multiple choice biology diversity in living world characteristics of vertebrates classification of vertebrata classifications of chordata

Ammocoete larva belongs to 

  1. Petromyzon

  2. Myxine

  3. Amphioxus

  4. Balanoglossus
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Ammocoete larva is the larval stage of the primitive jawless fish, called as the lamprey or Petromyzon. Adult lampreys spawn in rivers and then die. The young larvae, ammocoetes, spend several years in the rivers, where they live burrowed in fine sediment, filter feeding on detritus and microorganisms. Then, ammocoetes undergo a metamorphosis lasting several months. 

So, the correct answer is option A.

Multiple choice biology diversity in living world characteristics of vertebrates classification of vertebrata classifications of chordata

Match the name of the animal (Column I), with one characteristics (Column II), and the phylum/class (column III) to which it belongs :

  1. Column I : Petromyzon, Column II : ectoparasite, Column III : Cyclostomata

  2. Column I : Ichthyophis, Column II : terrestrial, Column III : Reptilia

  3. Column I : Limulus, Column II : body covered by chitinous exoskeleton, Column III : Pisces

  4. Column I : Adamsia, Column II : radially symmetrical, Column III : Porifera
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
L imulus belongs to phylum Arthropoda. Adamsia belongs to phylum Coelenterata. Petromyzon (lamprey) (cyclostomata) is a sanguivorous ectoparasite of larger fishes. Ichthyophis is a limbless amphibian and belongs to class Amphibia.

So, the correct answer is 'A'.
Multiple choice biology diversity in living world characteristics of vertebrates classification of vertebrata classifications of chordata

Which of the following classes doesn't belong to the superclass Agnatha?

  1. Ostracoderm

  2. Cyclostomata

  3. Placodermi

  4. Chondrictheyes
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C,D Correct answer
Explanation
  • Agnatha is a superclass of jawless fish i.e these animals have no jaws.
  • They come under the phylum chordata, subphylum vertebrata and includes the Cyclostomes and extinct Ostracoderm species.
  • Placodermi is a class of armoured prehistoric fish having plated skin belonging to the superclass Gnathostomata (having jaws).
  • Chondrichthyes is a class which contains cartilaginous fishes and belong to the superclass Gnathostomata.
  • So the correct answer is 'Placodermi and Chondrichthyes'.
Multiple choice biology diversity in living world characteristics of vertebrates classification of vertebrata classifications of chordata

The notochord is present throughout the life in organisms belonging to which of the following group?

  1. Agnatha

  2. Cephalochordata

  3. Urochordata

  4. Both A and B
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Cephalochordates are a group of organisms in which the notochord extends from head to tail region and is persistent throughout their life. Agnatha is a group of vertebrates that lacks jaw and notochord is present in both larvae and adult forms. While in Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates) notochord is replaced by a vertebral column in adults.

In Urochordata, the notochord is present only in the larval tail. 
So, the correct option is 'Agnatha and Cephalochordata'.

Multiple choice biology diversity in living world characteristics of vertebrates classification of vertebrata classifications of chordata

What is the fate of notochord in an adult organism which belongs to Gnathostomata?

  1. Notochord extincts

  2. Notochord is replaced by the vertebral column

  3. Notochord becomes vestigial

  4. Notochord continues same as in larval stage
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

  • Phylum Chordata can be divided into two categories:-
1) Protochordata- The notochord is present in the larval stage of these animals and it is rudimentary in adults.
2) Vertebrata- The notochord is replaced by a vertebral column in adults.
  • Gnathostomata is a superclass which includes jawed vertebrate fishes.
  • They come under the subphylum vertebrata i.e the notochord is replaced by a vertebral column in adults.
  • So, the correct answer is 'Notochord is replaced by the vertebral column'.

Multiple choice biology diversity in living world characteristics of vertebrates classification of vertebrata classifications of chordata

Which among the following is the lowest grade vertebrate?

  1. Agnatha

  2. Cyclostomata

  3. Echinodermates

  4. Both A and B
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Agnatha is a superclass of jawless fishes in the phylum Chordata. These are ectothermic, meaning they do not regulate their own body temperature. They show slow metabolism in cold water. They do not have a proper stomach rather they have a long homogenous gut. They are lowest grade vertebrates. The notochord is persistent in them. 

Cyclostomata is a group of chordates that comprises the living jawless fishes - the lampreys and hagfishes. These fishes are a parasite as well as scavengers. The body is long, then tubular and tail is flat. They are also known as false fish.
So, the correct answer is option D.