B exam style question

Question 1

Which of the following is a craniate superclass with extant representatives?

Answer 1

Petromyzontomorphi

Question 2

Which of the following is the class of jawed fishes (gnathostomes) that contains the greatest diversity of living fishes?

Answer 2

Actinopterygii

Question 3

Which of the following are chondrichthyan subclasses?

Answer 3

Elasmobranchii, Holocephali.

For reference;
Elasmobranchii: subclass
Holocephali: subclass
Selachii: subdivision
Batoidea: subdivision
Neoselachii: division

Question 4

Which of the following is a neopterygian fish that is not a teleost?

Answer 4

Gars (Lepisosteiformes)

Question 5

According to Rybczynski et al (2009), the fossil of the mammal Puijila darwini represented a transitional form between aquatic and land-based taxa, and is significant because it suggests that:

Answer 5

All three pinniped families can be united by a common ancester (monophyly).

Question 6

While diving in a freshwater lake, you see a jawless fish with 7 gill-openings and well developed eyes. To what superclass is this fish most likely to belong?

Answer 6

Petromyzontomorphi

Question 7

Which of the following statements about Ostariophysi (superorder; includes minnows, catfishes, carps etc) is FALSE?

Answer 7

They are in the same subdivision as the bonytongues, elephantfishes and gymnarchids

False, because bonytongues etc are in Osteoglossomorpha.

Question 8

While on a research cruise, you see a large marine mammal on the shore. You notice that it rotates its pelvis while walking but does not have any external ear flaps. To which group of marine mammals does it belong?

Answer 8

Odobenidae

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT an adaptation that allows the respiratory system of birds to meet high metabolic demands?

Answer 9

Cross-current flow of air + blood

Question 10

Amphipods belong to which of the following classes?

Answer 10

Malacostraca

Question 11

Blood flows through anatomical features in the body of actinopterygians by which sequence?

Answer 11

Ventricle -> bulbus arteriosus -> body -> gills

Question 12

Chondrostei (e.g. sturgeons and paddlefish) are…

Answer 12

A subclass within Actinopterygii

Question 13

Hexactinellida are commonly known as….

Answer 13

Glass sponges

Question 14

In Ophiuroids, undigested food waste comes out of which of the following locations?

Answer 14

The mouth

Question 15

In the back of a museum collection you find an unlabelled jar containing a fish specimen. The specimen has claspers, ribs and 5 gill openings. To which SUBCLASS of fish does this species belong?

Answer 15

Elasmobranchii

Question 16

Sea anemones belong to which of the following taxonomic groups?

Answer 16

Hexacorallia

Question 17

The corona of rotifers is…

Answer 17

Covered in cilia for feeding

Question 18

The description of a nostril on the jawbone of the fossil Kenichthys by Zhu and Ahlberg (2004) is significant because
it provides evidence for which key evolutionary step?

Answer 18

Relocation of posterior nostrils to the palate in tetrapodomorphs.

Question 19

The sessile sea squirt, Ciona intestinalis, would most likely belong to the class?

Answer 19

Ascidiacea

Question 20

What feature of many ostracoderm fishes suggests that they had a benthic existence?

Answer 20

Hypocercal tails

Question 21

What is the primary role of the gastropod radula?

Answer 21

Feeding

Question 22

What is true of Chondrichthyes, Sacropterygii and Actinopterygii?

Answer 22

They are all classes within the superclass Gnathostomata.

Question 23

What type of symmetry do Echinoderms typically show?

Answer 23

Bilateral symmetry as larvae and radial symmetry as adults.

Question 24

Which of the following about nematode worms is FALSE?

Answer 24

They are segmented.

Question 25

Which of the following is NOT an evolutionary trend observed across teleostean phylogeny?

Answer 25

Fusion of the premaxilla with the maxilla in the upper jaw.

Question 26

Which of the following is TRUE for sharks and rays living in seawater?

Answer 26

The solute concentration of the blood (osmolality) remains slightly higher than ambient water (hyperosmotic).

Question 27

Which of the following options best describes the body plan of sponges belonging to the class Homoscleromorpha?

Answer 27

Leuconoid

Question 28

Which SUBDIVISION of teleosts contains the highest number of extant freshwater fish species?

Answer 28

Otocephala

Question 29

While on a research cruise you see a marine mammal swimming past the boat. You notice that it has a mobile neck, whiskers and no external ear flaps. To which of the following groups can it belong?

Answer 29

Phocidae