Dicondylic skull along with ten pairs of cranial nerves is found in
Correct Answer :
Amphibia
Solution :
The correct option is Amphibia.
To understand why this is correct, we can break down the anatomical characteristics mentioned in the question: a dicondylic skull and ten pairs of cranial nerves.
1. Understanding the Skull Type (Dicondylic Skull):
A skull is classified based on the number of occipital condyles it possesses. Occipital condyles are bony rounded structures at the back of the skull that articulate with the first vertebra (atlas) of the vertebral column, allowing head movement.
- A monocondylic skull possesses only one occipital condyle (found in reptiles and birds).
- A dicondylic skull possesses two occipital condyles. This feature is characteristic of both amphibians and mammals, allowing limited nodding movement of the head.
2. Analyzing the Cranial Nerves:
Cranial nerves are the nerves that emerge directly from the brain. The number of pairs of cranial nerves varies among different vertebrate classes:
- Pisces (Fishes): Possess 10 pairs of cranial nerves.
- Amphibia (Amphibians): Possess 10 pairs of cranial nerves.
- Reptilia (Reptiles): Possess 12 pairs of cranial nerves.
- Mammalia (Mammals): Possess 12 pairs of cranial nerves.
3. Combining the Features:
By matching both criteria given in the question, we can identify the correct group:
- Mammalia: Dicondylic skull, but 12 pairs of cranial nerves.
- Reptilia: Monocondylic skull, and 12 pairs of cranial nerves.
- Pisces: Monocondylic skull (usually), and 10 pairs of cranial nerves.
- Amphibia: Dicondylic skull, and 10 pairs of cranial nerves.
Therefore, the presence of a dicondylic skull along with exactly ten pairs of cranial nerves is a defining combination of characteristics found in the class Amphibia.
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