According to the NCERT Biology curriculum for Animal Kingdom, chordates are defined by four primary features: 1) Presence of a notochord, 2) A dorsal, hollow, single central nervous system, 3) Paired pharyngeal gill slits, and 4) A post-anal tail.
Option (A) is a characteristic (post-anal tail). Option (B) is a characteristic (notochord). Option (C) is a characteristic (dorsal CNS). Option (D) states "Absence of gills". However, chordates are characterized by the presence of pharyngeal gill slits at some stage of their life cycle.
Since the presence of pharyngeal gill slits is a diagnostic feature of chordates, the statement claiming their absence is incorrect and therefore represents the correct answer to the question.
Final Answer: D
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