Question

Name the three possible ways pharyngeal slits can be present in a vertebrate.​

Answer 1

Pharyngeal slits are a characteristic feature of chordates, which includes vertebrates. Here are three possible ways pharyngeal slits can be present in a vertebrate:

1. Gill slits - In aquatic vertebrates, such as fish, pharyngeal slits develop into gills, which are used for respiration. Water is taken in through the mouth and passes over the gills, where oxygen is extracted and carbon dioxide is released.

2. Ear bones - In tetrapods, such as amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, pharyngeal slits are modified into other structures. In some tetrapods, the pharyngeal slits develop into ear bones, which are used for hearing.

3. Thymus gland - In mammals, the pharyngeal slits are not visible externally and do not develop into functional structures. Instead, they contribute to the development of the thymus gland, which is part of the immune system.

Answer 2

pharynx, throat and the outside

Step-by-step explanation:

Pharyngeal slits are a third chordate feature; these are openings between the pharynx, or throat, and the outside. They have been modified extensively in the course of evolution. In primitive chordates, these slits are used to filter food particles from the water.