"What animal has pharyngeal gill slits, notochord, dorsal hollow nerve chord, and post-anal tail?"Group of answer choicesAmphioxusEarthwormSea StarSponge

To answer the question regarding which animal has pharyngeal gill slits, notochord, dorsal hollow nerve chord, and post-anal tail, we can analyze the characteristics of each of the options provided.

1. Amphioxus: Known as lancelets, amphioxus are remarkable for possessing all four characteristics of chordates throughout their lives. They have pharyngeal gill slits for filter feeding, a notochord for structural support, a dorsal hollow nerve chord for nerve function, and a post-anal tail for locomotion.

2. Earthworm: Earthworms belong to the phylum Annelida. They do not have a notochord or any of the other features listed. Their body plan is quite different and does not fit the description provided.

3. Sea Star: Sea stars are echinoderms and do not possess a notochord, dorsal hollow nerve chord, or pharyngeal gill slits. They have a completely different body structure, characterized by their radial symmetry.

4. Sponge: Sponges are simple organisms classified under the phylum Porifera. They do not have any of the features mentioned either. They lack true tissues and organs.

Final Answer

Based on the analysis above, the animal that possesses pharyngeal gill slits, a notochord, a dorsal hollow nerve chord, and a post-anal tail is Amphioxus.