Answer:
Although they are not closely related, as vertebrate animals, they share some characteristics and belong to the same Phylum.
Explanation:
Tigers and goldfish belong to different Classes. Tigers (<em>Panthera tigris</em>) belong to the Class Mammalia, while goldfish (<em>Carassius auratus</em>) belong to the Class Actinopterygii. However, they both belong to the Phylum Chordata.
Chordates share particular characteristics, such as a dorsal neural tube, a notochord, a bilateral symmetry, circulatory system, amongst other features. They are divided into different groups of vertebrates as well: mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and fish. And, according to evolutionionary studies, over 300 million years ago, the first vertebrates that lived on land (amphibians) evolved from a lobe-finned fish species, which eventually led to the evolution of mammals that adapted to terrestrial environments.
Therefore, even though goldfish and tigers may seem completely different, they share similar characteristics. Plus, they are vertebrates that belong to the same phylum.
