Sea Squirts and Lampreys, Which Are Closely Related Aquatic Animals

Multiple Choice

Sea squirts and lampreys, which are closely related aquatic animals, have a perforated pharynx, a ventral heart, and a notochord at some stage of development. These similarities are best explained by

A) the ʺLadder of Nature.ʺ
B) uniformitarianism.
C) artificial selection.
D) a common ancestry.
E) inheritance of acquired characteristics.