To which of the following taxonomic group does the whale belongs?

Options

A. Fishes
B. Amphibians
C. Reptiles
D. Mammals

Answer

To determine the taxonomic group to which the whale belongs, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Phylum**:
- Whales belong to the Phylum Chordata. This phylum includes all animals that have a notochord at some stage of their development.

2. **Identify the Subphylum**:
- Within the Phylum Chordata, whales fall under the Subphylum Vertebrata, which includes animals with a backbone.

3. **Identify the Class**:
- Whales are classified under the Class Mammalia. This class is characterized by the presence of mammary glands, which produce milk to nourish young ones.

4. **Confirm Unique Features of Mammals**:
- Mammals, including whales, have several unique features:
- Presence of mammary glands.
- Two pairs of limbs adapted for various functions (in the case of whales, they are adapted for swimming).
- Skin that possesses hair (though in whales, this is minimal).
- Homeothermic (they maintain a constant body temperature).
- Most mammals are viviparous (giving birth to live young), with the exception of a few like the platypus.

5. **Conclusion**:
- Based on the classification and unique characteristics, the whale belongs to the taxonomic group **D. Mammals**.

### Final Answer:
Whales belong to the taxonomic group **D. Mammals**.

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