[Campbell Biology P.772] What is a key shared characteristic between hagfishes Myxini and la... | Practice Question

What is a key shared characteristic between hagfishes Myxini and lampreys Petromyzontida that classifies them as cyclostomes?

  • A: They both possess jaws.
  • B: They both are parasitic.
  • C: They are both jawless vertebrates.
  • D: They both lack any form of vertebrae.

Explanation

The text explicitly states: 'Together, the hagfishes and lampreys form a clade of living jawless vertebrates, the cyclostomes.' This directly supports option C. While their vertebral status has been a point of historical debate, both are now understood to possess rudimentary vertebrae, contradicting option D.