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The dodo was a flightless bird which is now extinct - Edexcel - GCSE Biology - Question 3 - 2013 - Paper 1
Question 3
The dodo was a flightless bird which is now extinct. The photograph shows the skeleton of a dodo. (a) (i) Explain why the dodo was placed in the kingdom Animalia. ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:The dodo was a flightless bird which is now extinct - Edexcel - GCSE Biology - Question 3 - 2013 - Paper 1
Step 1
Explain why the dodo was placed in the kingdom Animalia.
Answer
The dodo was placed in the kingdom Animalia because it possesses characteristics typical of animals. This includes being multicellular, heterotrophic (meaning it obtains its food by consuming other organisms), and having specialized cells such as nerve and muscle cells. Additionally, as a member of the kingdom Animalia, it demonstrates complex behaviors and responses to stimuli, which are significant traits of animal life.
Step 2
Using the information in the photograph, explain why scientists classified the dodo into the phylum Chordata.
Answer
Scientists classified the dodo into the phylum Chordata due to the presence of key anatomical features observable in the skeleton shown in the photograph. Specifically, the dodo exhibits a vertebral column (backbone), a characteristic defining trait of chordates. Furthermore, its bone structure suggests it possessed a notochord during its developmental stages, consistent with members of the Chordata phylum, which includes all vertebrates and some invertebrates.