Question

During the early stages of embryo development, dolphins have gill pouches. What does this mean?

Answer 1

Answer:

This means the dolphin is an vertebrate.

Explanation:

• Gill pouches are the structures which are present in all vertebrates in the embryonic stages while it is present in fishes and amphibian in later life also.
• It is thought to be the ancestral structures present in vertebrates. These pouches are then converted to lungs in the later life. For the water animals they are used for respiration.
• They are actually the muscular walls containing respiratory lamellae on its inner side.
• Hence in dolphin they are signs that dolphin is an vertebrate.