Question

Assertion: Herdmania has a digestion mechanism like a higher group of animals.
Reason: The liver of Herdmania possesses several enzymes required for digestion.
(a) Both Assertion and Reason are correct and the reason is a correct explanation of assertion.
(b) Both Assertion and Reason are correct but the reason is not a correct explanation of assertion.
(c) Assertion correct but Reason is incorrect.
(d) Both Assertion and Reason and incorrect.

Answer 1

Hint: Herdamania is a type of chordate belonging to subphylum Urochordata which possesses a notochord only in the tail at a larval stage but this tail disappears in adulthood. All chordates possess high similarity in their internal body structure, in its component and its function.

Complete Answer:
The digestive mechanism of Herdmania is similar to higher animals with two unequal lobes of the liver. The liver is composed of a large number of caeca made up of connective tissues and blood sinuses. The digestive enzyme of the liver consists of amylases, proteases, lipases, invertase, lactase, and maltase which helps in the breakdown of carbohydrates, protein, and fats.

Additional information:
Herdmania is commonly known as sea squirts which belong to the subphylum Urochordata under Chordata. They are the primitive form of chordates. They are commonly found in marine habitats. The body is covered with thick leathery tunic, which is made up of cellulose-like substance tunicin, therefore they are also known as Tunicata. Larva consists of nerve cords which are replaced by a dorsal ganglion in adults. Water enters through the mouth and comes out from the atrial aperture. The body has two projection branchial apertures that possess mouth and atrial aperture which possess cloaca for excretion. Reproduction takes place by cross-fertilization and tadpoles undergo retrogressive metamorphosis in which better-developed larvae get to transform into a less developed adult.

So, the correct answer is Both Assertion and Reason are correct and the reason is a correct explanation of assertion.

Note: Many sea squirts are poisonous, they use these poisonous substances for self-defense that's why all sea squirt is not used as food.
It is also believed that sea squirts eat their brain while transforming from larva to adult which does not lead to the great loss to the creature.